Orinoco - river in Venezuela

The river in Venezuela - Orinoco - is located in South America and is one of the most picturesque among the local reservoirs. This is the first river that was discovered in the New World. Singer Enya even dedicated her song "Orinoco Flow" to her.

Opening

Columbus, for the first time seeing the mouth of this beautiful pond, decided that this is a heavenly place. The Indians, who lived on the bank of the river, met the strangers in a friendly manner. But their tradition of wearing gold jewelry caused a "golden fever". The conquistadors moved deeper through the territory, dreaming of finding a precious city.

But he was only their imagination. On the way to the Orinoco mouth, gold seekers destroyed everything on the way. But the Indians of Warao were able to survive and still continue to live in the delta of the river. But their number is now only 20,000 people.

Location of the river

The river in Venezuela and Colombia (Orinoco) originates near the Brazilian border, near the mountain Delgado-Chalbaud. The river stream begins its journey from the Parim mountain range. From the source (it is located not far from the Brazilian border) flows, bending around the arc of the Guiana Highlands, flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Orinoco is also referred to Colombia, as this pond serves simultaneously as a border with Venezuela.

Description of the pond

The Orinoco River is one of the largest in South America. Its length is 2410 kilometers, the catchment area is 880,000 square kilometers. In Venezuela, only 76.3% of the total area is located. The rest is in Colombia. Orinoco is divided into four sections of different lengths: upper, lower, middle and delta.

The upper section is approximately 250 kilometers long. It is from the source to Raudalis de Guajaribos. The terrain is mountainous, and the waters flow to the north-west.

The average stretch stretches for about 750 kilometers. The first 480 km of Orinoco flows in the west. Then it turns north and carries water along the Colombian border.

The lower section, almost a thousand kilometers long, begins at the confluence of the rivers Puerto Carreno and Meta. This is a well-developed floodplain. Water moves to the northeast. The lower section ends near Barrancas.

Delta is 200 kilometers long, and its area is 41,000 square kilometers. Km, and at the widest point the water artery reaches 370 km.

It is the main river of Venezuela and a very important transport route. It is navigable from the delta to Ciudad Bolivar. In the lower reaches of the Orinoco it has many branches and forms a delta. The river feeds on rains (mainly summer). And when the dry season comes, it looks like a chain of small standing lakes.

The origins of the river were not investigated until the 20th century. The flooded forests, tributaries, waterfalls and rapids prevented. All this made it difficult for researchers. Orinoco was able to visit only two expeditions. According to the stories of the Indians, several small ancient tribes live on the river until now. They avoid contact with the outside world, hunt, collect the gifts of nature.

When the dry season comes, the river in Venezuela (Orinoco) recedes from the coast, and the ancient drawings created by Arawaks 3000 years ago become visible. Below the pond is poured along the plain of Llanos. There Venezuelan cowboys (descendants of Indian hunters and Negro slaves) raise cattle. The river narrows from Ciudad Bolivar, then again flows through the valley.

Attractions and features of Orinoco

The river has a feature - the river Kasikyare, connecting the Amazon and Orinoco. And its tributaries - the majority of Venezuelan reservoirs. On one of them is Angel - the highest waterfall in the world. Orinoco - oil river in Venezuela. Gold researchers were not found in it, but bituminous sands (heavy oil) were found. Therefore, the river is called oil.

Fauna of Orinoco

In the river there are giant otters. One of the world's rarest reptiles lives in this pond - the Orinoco crocodile. Over a thousand species of fish live in the river. Some live only near the mouth. In Orinoco, black piranhas live. And also a fish called the cardinal tetra. She is very fond of aquarists. And the real home of these fish is Rio Negro. On the shores of the Orinoco live large rodents capybar. And in 1800 in the river Alexander von Humboldt, unique pink dolphins were discovered .

River in Venezuela: Orinoco. Minerals

In 1926, rich deposits of iron ore were discovered in the river. But its mass extraction was started only in the second half of the 20th century. There are a lot of bituminous sand in the river sediments, which in the future can serve for oil production.