History[edit]

Punto Fijo was founded in the early 1940s, on the outskirts of two refinery operations established
by Standard Oil and Shell during the 1940s. Despite the name of the 1958 Puntofijo Pact, Punto
Fijo is unrelated to the pact (the pact was signed at Puntofijo Residence in Caracas). Punto Fijo
has an estimated population of 270,000 (est. 2002 census), mostly in the urban center.
Punto Fijo's name is commonly attributed to the late Rafael González Estaba, former city
historian, who said that the place where the city now stands was a common stop (the "fixed
point") for passers-by and fishermen.

Economy[edit]
Punto Fijo has the world's largest oil refinery complex, the Paraguaná Refinery Complex (CRP is
its Spanish acronym), which consists of the Amuay and Cardón Refineries (both part of the
CRP). The operation once refined around 1 million barrels per day, and all of these petroleum
products were fuel for the local and regional economy. Also, Punto Fijo possesses the second
most important fishing fleet in Venezuela, and has an industrial zone where electronics plants
and light machinery plants are located. Punto Fijo includes a Free Zone for Touristic Investment
allowing importation of goods free of tariffs.
The progressive development that Punto Fijo is facing currently has given incentive to local,
municipal, state and national authorities to carry out public building works that the city needed
years ago. This includes the main bus station, repairs to public roads, and settlement of a new
thermoelectricity energy plant "Josefa Camejo". The private sector has made investments as
well, like the Sambil Mall Paraguaná, and Paraguaná Mall. These new complexes now join
the Centro Comercial y Recreacional Las Virtudes Mall

Transportation[edit]
Punto Fijo is crisscrossed from north to south and east to west by numerous avenues. A new bus
terminal is under construction and expected to be ready by beginning 2010. The city is linked to
Coro with a modern two-laned highway passing through the whole isthmus offering great views
of the Médanos de Coro National Park as well as flora found in this semi-arid region. The air
transport needs of Punto Fijo's are served by Las Piedras Airport, also known as Josefa Camejo
International Airport.

Climate