Guayana City

Guayana City, officially Ciudad Guayana, is a planned industrial city in Venezuela, founded in 1961 to support the country’s steel, aluminum, and hydroelectric industries. Located at the confluence of the Orinoco and Caroní Rivers, it was designed with a modern grid layout by the New York-based planner Wilbur Zelman to integrate industrial, commercial, and residential zones efficiently. The city’s economy revolves around hydropower from the Guri Dam, heavy industries, and mineral processing, making it one of Venezuela’s most significant industrial hubs. However, in recent decades, economic decline, political instability, and infrastructure deterioration have slowed growth. Despite its challenges, Guayana City remains a key part of Venezuela’s resource-driven economy, offering potential for industrial and urban revitalization.