city, northwestern Miranda estado (“state”), northern Venezuela, just east of Caracas. Nestled in the central highlands, the city was formerly a commercial centre in a fertile agricultural area producing coffee, cacao, and sugarcane. With the growth of the national capital, it has become a residential suburb in the Caracas metropolitan area. The Humboldt Planetarium, a national park, and La Carlota airport are located in the southern portion of the city. Expressways lead to downtown Caracas, approximately 8 miles (13 km) to the west. Pop. (1990) 59,141; (2000) 74,701.