The Flag of Venezuela
The flag of Venezuela consists of three horizontal stripes of yellow, blue, and red, from top to bottom, with an arc of eight white stars centered in the blue stripe. In its official state version, it also features the country's coat of arms in the upper hoist corner of the yellow stripe. The flag's design is rich in symbolism, representing wealth (yellow), the sea separating Venezuela from Spain (blue), and the bloodshed in the fight for independence (red), while the stars are a representation of the provinces that supported the revolution.
History
The history of the Venezuelan flag dates back to the early 19th century during the period of independence movements across South America. The flag was first raised on March 12, 1806, by Francisco de Miranda, one of the precursors to Venezuelan independence, on the corvette Leander. This design underwent several modifications throughout the years, notably in 1811 when Venezuela declared independence from Spain, and the flag was officially adopted on July 5, 1811, with a design that included a variation of the three colors and seven stars, representing the original Provinces of Venezuela that declared the independence. Over the years, the flag has seen adjustments in the arrangement and the number of stars, reflecting changes in the country's political landscape and territorial divisions. The most recent modification was in 2006, when the government added an eighth star to fulfill Simon Bolivar's decree of 1817, intending to honor the province of Guayana.