Autònomo Atures Municipality Municipio Autònomo Atures
Municipality
Piedra la Tortuga Natural Monument, Atures
Flag Seal
Location in Amazonas
Autònomo Atures Municipality Location in Venezuela
Coordinates: 5°44′00″N 67°25′48″W / 5.7333403°N 67.4299406°W / 5.7333403; -67.4299406
Country	Venezuela
State	Amazonas
Municipal seat	Puerto Ayacucho
Government
• Mayor	Mireya Labrador (PPT)
Area
• Total	4,010.5 km2 (1,548.5 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	104,228
• Density	26/km2 (67/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−4 (VET)
Area code(s)	0248
Website	Official website
[edit on Wikidata]

The Atures Municipality (Spanish: Municipio Atures) is one of the seven municipalities (municipios) that makes up the southern Venezuelan state of Amazonas and, according to the 2011 census by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 104,228.^[1] The city of Puerto Ayacucho is the shire town of the Atures Municipality.^[2]

History

The city of Puerto Ayacucho was founded to facilitate the transport of goods past the Atures Rapids on the Orinoco River in the late 19th century (mostly rubber).^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

The Atures Municipality, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, has a population of 91,386 (up from 74,066 in 2000). This amounts to 64.3% of the state's population.^[3] The municipality's population density is 20.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (53/sq mi).^[4]

Government

The mayor of the Atures Municipality is Mireya Labrador, elected on October 31, 2004, with 39% of the vote.^[5] She replaced Angel Rodriguez shortly after the elections.^[6] The municipality is divided into four parishes; Fernando Girón Tovar, Luis Alberto Gómez, Parhueña, and Platanillal (previous to December 18, 1997, the Atures Municipality contained only a single parish).^[2]