Adopted in 2006. The flag of Venezuela has three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band. The flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830. Yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence.