La Guaira State (Estado La Guaira; Estado Vargas, ), officially La Guaira, and known until 2019 as Vargas State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. Formerly named after Venezuela's first non-military president, José María Vargas, Vargas 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 is La Guaira. 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 La Guaira 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 owed its previous name to José María Vargas, Venezuela's first civilian president, although this was changed on June 13, 2019 to only La Guaira.
