La Guaira State (Spanish: Estado La Guaira), known until 2019 as Vargas State (Spanish: Estado Vargas, IPA: [esˈtaðo ˈβaɾɣas]), is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.
Formerly named after Venezuela’s first civilian president, José María Vargas, the state comprises a coastal region in the north of Venezuela, bordering Aragua to the west, Miranda to the east, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Capital District to the south. It is home to both the country’s largest seaport and airport. The state capital and largest city is La Guaira followed by Catia La Mar and Maiquetía. The Litoral Varguense conurbation is the principal urban agglomeration in the state, which is part of the Greater Caracas Area.
In 1999, the geographic center of the state suffered major floods and landslides, known as La Tragedia de Vargas (the Vargas tragedy), causing major losses of life and property, and resulting in forced population movements, including the virtual disappearance of some small towns. Thousands died, and many more fled the area to other states. The state’s name was changed on 14 June 2019 to La Guaira.
The Ávila National Park, officially known as Waraira Repano National Park for its indigenous Cariban name, protects part of the Cordillera de la Costa Central mountain range, in the coastal region of central-northern Venezuela. The area’s highest elevation is Pico Naiguatá, at 2,765 meters (9,072 ft) above sea level.
The International Airport of Maiquetía Simón Bolívar (IATA: CCS, ICAO: SVMI/IAIM) is the main airport serving the metropolitan area of Caracas and the state of La Guaira, and is considered the most important airport in Venezuela in terms of air and passenger traffic. It is administered by the International Airport Institute of Maiquetía (IAIM) since its creation in 1971 and by the National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC).