Orinoco River V South America- this is the first open river of the New World. When Christopher Columbus saw the mouth of the Orinoco River in 1498, he was so amazed by the beauty of the area that he decided that it was one of the four rivers of paradise. The Varao Indians greeted the sailors friendly. But the Indian tradition of wearing gold jewelry played a cruel joke on them. The conquistadors, driven by the gold rush and dreams of the golden city of El Dorado, moved deeper and deeper along the river, destroying everything in their path. But they were never able to find the mythical golden city.
Warao Indians still live in the Orinoco Delta. Their number becomes only 20 thousand people.
Varao translates as “boat people”, which refers to their way of life. Big photo .
River length: 2736 kilometers.
Drainage basin area: 1,086,000 km. sq.
Where does it occur: The Orinoco River originates near Mount Delgado Chalbaud in Venezuela near the border with Brazil. From its source, the river flows in a wide arc around the Guiana Highlands. The river changes the direction of its flow from southwest to west, then flows north and, finally, when it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northeast. The origins of the Orinoco remained unexplored until the mid-twentieth century. This is partly due to flooded forests, tributaries, rapids and waterfalls, which made it very difficult for researchers to access these places. Until today, only two expeditions have visited there. The Indians say that several small tribes still live at the source of the Orinoco. They obtain their food exclusively by gathering and hunting and avoid any contact with the outside world.
Further downstream, the Orinoco forms the border between Venezuela and Colombia. During the dry season, the water recedes and ancient paintings dating back three thousand years can be seen. They were drawn by Indians from the Arawak tribe. Even further downstream, the river spills over a wide plain, called here Lyanos. These plains contain the meaning of life for the Laneros - Venezuelan cowboys. Here they are engaged in cattle breeding. The Laneros are the descendants of the conquistadors, black slaves and Ojonic Indians who once inhabited these lands. Near the city of Ciudad Bolivar the river narrows, after which it flows again through a wide valley. The Orinoco is navigable from the delta all the way to Ciudad Bolivar.
In the lower reaches, the Orinoco branches into many branches and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a large delta with an area of 41,000 km. sq.
River mode: The Orinoco is fed mainly by seasonal (mainly summer) rains, which causes uneven water flow. During summer floods, the river's width can reach 22 km and its depth - 100 meters. During the dry season, small tributaries of the river turn into a chain of stagnant lakes. The average water flow is 33,000 m3/s (varies depending on the season within the range of 5-55 thousand m3/s). A special feature of the river is a natural channel connecting the Orinoco and the Amazon - this is the Casiquiare River, which first branches off from the Orinoco and then flows into the Rio Negro (one of the tributaries of the Amazon). Most of the Venezuelan rivers are tributaries of the Orinoco.
Main tributaries: Ventuari, Caura, Caroni – right tributaries; Guaviare, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure are left tributaries. On one of its tributaries, the Churun River, there is the world's highest waterfall - Angel.
Biological resources: The river is home to Amazonian dolphins and the rarest species of crocodiles in the world - the Orinoco crocodile; on the banks you can find large capybara rodents.
Watch the video clip: “Wildlife of Venezuela. Somewhere in the Orinoco valleys"
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(Orinoco; in the language of the local Tamanak Indians Orinuku, literally - river) a river in South America, in Venezuela and Colombia. Length (according to various sources) from 2500 to 2730 km, basin area 1086 thousand km2. It originates on the western slopes of the Serra Parima mountains, in the southwestern part of the Guiana Plateau, flows through the Guiana Lowland, flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a delta. Main tributaries: on the right - Ventuari, Caura, Caroni; from left - Guaviare, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure
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In the upper reaches, the river separates from the Orinoco on the left. Casiquiare, along the bed of which about 1/3 of the flow goes into the river basin. Amazons. To the mouth of the river Meta. The Orinoco flows through mountainous and hilly terrain, forming rapids and rapids, especially in the area between the mouths of the Vichada and Meta rivers.
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In the middle reaches of the Orinoco it turns into a full-flowing river up to 1-1.5 km wide, in some places up to 3 km, and 10-20 m deep or more. The wide (3-10 km) valley narrows in places, forming the so-called Angosturas; the last of these narrowings is located in the lower reaches, in the area of the city of Ciudad Bolivar, after which the river flows through a wide valley to its mouth, branching into big number sleeves and ducts. In the Barrancas area (200 km from the sea), the vast (about 20 thousand km2) marshy Orinoco delta begins, stretching along the sea coast for about 300 km
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The Orinoco is predominantly rain-fed. Water levels and flows fluctuate dramatically throughout the year. In the lower reaches, near the city of Ciudad Bolivar, the flood begins in the 2nd half of April - early May, in September the level reaches its greatest height, after which a gradual decline is observed until March - April, when the level is lowest. Near the mouth of the river. Meta water rises are 8-10 m, near the city of Ciudad Bolivar - 10-15 m above low horizons. Sea tides spread up the river to the city of Ciudad Bolivar.
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During the dry season (November - April) in low-water years, water consumption decreases to 5-7 thousand m3/sec. Solid drainage is about 45 million tons per year. The total length of shipping routes in the Orinoco basin is about 12 thousand km. Ocean-going ships with a draft of up to 8 m rise to the city of Ciudad Bolivar (about 400 km from the mouth). During the rainy season, river boats rise to the river. Guaviare (with breaks at the rapids)
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The right tributaries of the Orinoco are suitable for navigation only in the lower reaches, the left tributaries are navigable for most of the year. The hydropower resources of the Orinoco are still underutilized; A hydroelectric power station system is being built (1974) on the river. Caroni. Main cities: Santa Barbara, Puerto Ayacucho, Ciudad Bolivar, Puerto Ordaz (Venezuela); Puerto Carreño (Colombia).
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In 1498 Columbus reached one of the mouth branches of the Orinoco. In 1499, members of the Spanish expedition A. Ojeda and A. Vespucci are believed to have seen one of the branches of the Orinoco. In 1531, the Spanish conquistador Diego Ordaz first climbed the Orinoco to the mouth of the river. Meta and followed a small section of its flow. At the beginning of 1800, the German scientist A. Humboldt, together with the French botanist E. Bonpland, traveled through the Orinoco and established a connection between the Orinoco and Amazon systems. The origins of the Orinoco were discovered by a Franco-Venezuelan expedition in 1951.
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The Orinoco delta and floodplain are home to many wading birds; there are more than 100 colonies of them. The spectacular Scarlet Ibis nests in trees scattered across the alliance, where the population of more than 65,000 pairs makes up a significant portion of the bird's global population. Also nests in the region a large number of wood storks - about 5,500 pairs, as well as many Brazilian jabiru, various types herons and ducks. The floodplain is of particular importance for two species of wood ducks. The savannah's bird life is also distinctive, with ti-namu, Brazilian cariama and a rich variety of small songbirds, as well as numerous raptors: hawks, falcons, kites, falcons and vultures. Pictured is Kariama.
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Large areas of the floodplain are used for grazing livestock, but currently increasing attention is being paid to capybara breeding. The semi-aquatic capybara is the world's largest rodent, reaching a weight of 80 kg. It is much more profitable for breeding than cattle, since it produces four times more meat per square meter of pasture land. White-tailed deer and numerous feline predators are common in the savanna: cougar, ocelot and jaguar. Pictured is a capybara
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Angel (Spanish: Salto Ángel) is the highest waterfall in the world, total height 1024 meters, continuous fall height 807 meters. Named after the pilot James Angel, who flew over the falls in 1935. On December 20, 2009, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez renamed (in his country only) Angel Falls, and now it is called Kerepakupai merú. . However, this does not mean that it (the waterfall) will be renamed on world maps. The waterfall is located in tropical forests Venezuela, in the Canaima National Park. Water cascades from the top of Auyantepui, the largest of the Venezuelan tepuis - its name means “devil’s mountain” in Russian.
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The waterfall was discovered in the early 20th century by explorer Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz, but was not widely known until the flight of James Angel. In 1933, US pilot James Angel flew in search of ore deposits. According to local guides, he was looking for diamonds. This is quite justified by the fact that local aborigines during the time of James Angel constantly talked about stones that, according to their descriptions, could be mistaken for diamonds. In fact, the plateau from which Angel Falls falls is rich in quartz. On November 16, 1933, while flying, Angel noticed a tepui called Auyantepui, which attracted his attention. On October 9, 1937, he returned and attempted to land the plane on Auyantepuy, but the plane was damaged during landing when one of the plane's wheels burst.
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As a result, Angel and his three companions, including his wife Marie, had to walk down from the tepui. Their return to civilization took 11 days. News of their adventure spread very quickly, and the waterfall was named after him - "Angel Falls" (Salto Ángel). IN Spanish the surname Angel is read as Angel, so the name is exactly that. Also, the waterfall has nothing to do with angels (as many people think) - it is simply the name of the person in whose honor the waterfall was named.
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Angel's Flamingo monoplane remained at the crash site for 33 years until it was rescued by helicopter. The plane was restored in the aviation museum of the city of Maracay, and now it stands right in front of the airport in the city of Ciudad Bolivar. In 1949, an expedition of the National Geographic Society (USA) took place to the highest waterfall in the world, based on the results of the trip, the height of the waterfall was determined and a book was published. In 1994, UNESCO introduced National Park Canaima, and therefore the waterfall, is on the World Heritage List. In April-May 2005, an international expedition consisting of 4 English, 2 Venezuelan and one Russian climbers and rock climbers made the first ascent of the waterfall wall by free climbing.
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On December 20, 2009, on his weekly show, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in a wave of anti-imperialism, renamed Angel Falls Kerepakupai-meru, in accordance with one of its local names. Initially, the name Churun-meru was proposed, but the President's daughter noticed that one of the smallest waterfalls in this area had this name, after which Chavez suggested a different name. The President explained this decision by saying that the waterfall was the property of Venezuela and part of its national wealth long before James Angel appeared, and the waterfall should not bear his name. The photo shows a diagram of Canaima National Park.
The Orinoco Delta is one of the most picturesque places in South America. For the unearthly beauty of these places, Christopher Columbus, who explored the New World at the end of the 15th century, called the Orinoco “paradise river.”
The delta of this river occupies a huge area - about 25 thousand square kilometers, second only to such water giants as the Ganges, Amazon, Lena, Mississippi. Thanks to its incredibly rich and colorful flora and fauna, the Orinoco Delta is no less impressive than such most beautiful places planets like the Colored Rocks of China, the Sea of Stars (Maldives), Turkish Cappadocia or the beaches of White Harbor in Australia.
Most of the river flows through Venezuela. Although exploration of the Orinoco began quite a long time ago (back in the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors visited these places in search of the mythical Eldorado), for a long time It remained unknown where this enormous water artery originates. Only in the 50s of the last century it was possible to establish that its source is located near Mount Delgado Chalbaud, on the border of Venezuela with Brazil.
It is noteworthy that most of the rivers in the Orinoco Delta have an unusual color of water. Depending on the composition of the bottom soil and the characteristics of coastal vegetation, the color of the water varies from light yellow, almost white, to dark coffee and even inky black. At the same time, a strange pattern is noted: the lighter the color of the water, the greater the number of different insects and aquatic animals that live in the river and coastal zone.
One of the most remarkable plants growing along the banks of the river is the Moriche palm. Local residents make cellulose from tall (up to 30 meters) smooth trunks of palm trees, use them in the construction of huts, and eat the core.
Of greatest interest to tourists are the numerous National parks, located near Orinoco: El Avila, La Mucuy, Henri Pittier, Los Nevados and others. They are home to an incredible variety of bird and animal species, including ibises, flamingos, hawks, parrots, jaguars, pumas, the largest snakes on the planet - anacondas and even an endangered reptile species - the Orinoco crocodiles. For many years, these reptiles were mercilessly exterminated by poachers for their beautiful skins. Currently, there are no more than 250 individuals left; the species is listed in the Red Book.
The Sierra Nevada National Park is especially popular, where you can not only admire the beauty of nature, but also fly a delta or paraglider, and take rock climbing lessons.
One of the main attractions of these places is Turtle Mountain. According to local legends, it was at the foot of this mysterious hill that the Universe was born. The Aborigines consider this mountain sacred. It is strictly forbidden to touch its surface, much less climb the mountain - you can only admire this natural miracle from afar.
Not only the beauty of nature, but also the opportunity to plunge into amazing world The distinctive Indian tribes, not corrupted by civilization, attract tourists to the Orinoco coast. Most of Venezuela's indigenous inhabitants live along the banks of the river. These are Indians of such small tribes as Guayacho, Guajiro, Tamanuki, Yanomami, Yaruro and others.
Rivers on the map
Perhaps the most famous people inhabiting these places are the Varao Indians, who spend almost their entire lives on the water. They live in huts built on stilts directly above the water, and their main method of transportation remains the canoe today. Even the name of the tribe - “Varao” - translated means “man in a boat”. The Indians of the tribe are very friendly; visitors to the village on the water will be shown traditional household items, introduced to the customs and culture of the tribe, and treated to local cuisine. Canoe tours accompanied by Warao guides, who organize excursions through the jungle, as well as piranha hunting, are incredibly popular among tourists.
The climate on the Orinoco coast is humid and hot. The average annual temperature is about 25-26°, it rains very often. The driest months of the year are January, February, March. It is during this period that it is recommended to plan a trip to the Orinoco Delta.
- one of the largest rivers in the world, occupying an honorable third place in length in South America. The Orinoco crosses the territory of Venezuela and then flows into the waters of the Atlantic. The total length of the river is more than two thousand kilometers.
The Orinoco River Delta is unique in its kind, because it is the largest in the whole world. There are many branches, each of which has its own special color of water and rich aquatic fauna. The river delta is home to a large number of bird species, and along the banks of the Orinoco there are many traditional Indian villages.
In the waters of the river you can find such exotic animals as Amazonian dolphins or Orinoco crocodiles. The shores are home to a huge number of wading birds: wood storks, scarlet ibises, ducks, kites, herons, hawks and many others. In the swampy areas of the river you can find capybaras - large relatives of guinea pigs, large cats such as jaguars, ocelots or pumas, as well as white-tailed deer and even large anacondas.
The banks of the Orinoco River are also the traditional place of residence of most of the indigenous Indian population of Venezuela. Basically, these are Indians of tribes not the most large sizes- from 10 to 30 thousand people. It is extremely difficult to meet people of the European type here, but you can meet representatives of the Guayacho, Guajiro, Yaruro, Tamanuki, Makiritare, Yanomami and Warao tribes.
Orinoco Rivers on the map
Cities on the banks of the Orinoco River (list)
- Ciudad Guayana
- San Felix
- Puerto Ordaz
- Ciudad Bolivar
- Santa Barbara
- Puerto Ayacucho
The emergence of cities in the Orinoco River basin dates back to the mid-20th century. That's when mining began here iron ore and other minerals. But usually all these towns are small and are located only on elevated places - to protect against possible floods in the Guiana Highlands. At the confluence of the Orinoco and Caroni rivers stands the largest city here - Ciudad Guayana. Populated by almost a million inhabitants, it includes two settlements: the old town of San Felix and the new town of Puerto Ordaz.
The Orinoco is one of the largest river systems in the world. This is the most mysterious and fascinating river in South America. Its waters have been attracting adventurers for centuries, despite their dangerous and unpredictable nature.
History of discovery
From the day of its discovery, the Orinoco was for a long time inaccessible due to the jungle hiding it, and therefore unknown. The first mention of it can be found in the notes of Christopher Columbus relating to his third expedition. The discoverer saw only the Orinoco delta, but the picture that opened struck him with its beauty.
The name of the Spaniard Diego de Ordaz is associated with this river, who spent half his life trying to find the mysterious place of El Dorado. It was he who was the first to study wildlife Orinoco. In 1531, German explorer Ambrosius Ehinger decided to study the river. At the same time, several other expeditions of a research nature were carried out. Unfortunately, the Orinoco of those times has not reached us.
It was remembered only at the beginning of the 19th century, when the German traveler Alexander von Humboldt went to study the nature of South America. It was he who described in detail the plants that grew along the banks of the Orinoco River, as well as the animals that lived in its waters. The source of the reservoir was found only in the middle of the 20th century.
Geographical location of the river and its size
The Orinoco River, as mentioned above, is located in South America. Its source is located on the border of Venezuela and Brazil. The river originates from Mount Delgado Chalbaud in the Guinean Plateau region.
Almost all of the Orinoco flows through Venezuela, but some parts of it lie in Colombia. Having passed the northern part of the mainland, the river flows into the Gulf of Paria, and from it into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Orinoco River is 2,736 km long, making it one of the longest bodies of water in South America. The width in different areas ranges from 250 m to 10 km. During floods, the Orinoco can flood up to 22 km in width. The depth of the river is not the greatest - its maximum point reaches 100 m.
Character of the Orinoco River
Navigation on the Orinoco is limited and very risky. moves only in the area of the deep delta. This is a necessary measure caused by the inconsistency of the nature of the reservoir. Here, every 6-7 hours, significant ebbs and flows occur, which prevent ships from moving. Orinoco varies depending on the time of year and season. In the dry season it turns into a system of lakes and swamps, and in the rainy season it overflows.
The flow of the Orinoco River at its source is southwest. The riverbed gradually bends in the form of an arc. Then the direction of the Orinoco River changes. It flows north and northeast. There the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The speed of water flow is consistently average along the entire length, except at the source. Since the river originates in the mountains, it flows faster in this area than in the lower reaches.
Relief and tributaries
In the upper reaches of the Orinoco River there are a large number of waterfalls of all sizes. This is due to the rocky and uneven surface of this area. In the lower and middle parts the relief of the Orinoco River is flat.
Closer to the delta, the Orinoco branches greatly, forming a large number of tributaries and lakes. Thanks to them, this place is especially picturesque. The tributaries of the river are unique because, despite the same source, each of them has an individual color and a unique composition of water. The water level in them is also not constant, as it depends on the amount of precipitation. During the dry season, tributaries dry out greatly or turn into small lakes
One of the tributaries of the Orinoco, the Casiquiare, connects it with the most famous and deep-flowing river in South America - the Amazon.
Fauna of the Orinoco River
The fauna of the Orinoco river system is unique. It has about 700 species of living beings. The river waters abound with fish. Electric eels and catfish, weighing several pounds, are found here and have fed the local population for centuries. However, you should be wary of piranhas and crocodiles, which are found in abundance here. The Orinoco River region is home to thousands of bird species. Scarlet ibises, flamingos, and colorful parrots live here. On the shores you can find giant turtles and other reptiles. The lower part of the river is home to many monkeys - capuchins, howler monkeys, macaques, as well as representatives of the cat family - ocelots, jaguars, pumas, etc.
Most tourists travel along the Orinoco River in hopes of seeing huge anacondas. But here you can also find very rare animals - pink and gray river dolphins, a giant river otter, herbivorous manatees, as well as the rarest reptile in the world - the Orinoco crocodile. Today these species are recognized as endangered and are under protection.
Flora of the river
The forest growing along the river is floodable. Therefore, plant life here is lush and diverse. In the lower reaches of the river, the flora is dense due to the large number of vines, which make these places impassable. However, those who manage to walk through the Orinoco forests will be delighted by the abundantly blooming bromeliads and orchids.
The predominant trees are mangroves. Their roots sink directly into the water, from where they receive nutrition. Tall palm trees and a variety of fruit trees grow abundantly in numerous mixed forests.
The importance of the river in human economic life
There are practically no settlements off the coast of the Orinoco. However, numerous indigenous tribes live here, for whom the river has become a source of not only food, but also additional income. So, the local friendly Indian tribes Warao have been living here for many years. Their small wooden houses built on stilts and rising above the water. In addition to fishing, they transport tourists along the Orinoco River. The word “Varao” itself is translated as “boat people”, so closely does this primitive tribe connect its life with water.
The largest of the few towns along the Orinoco River is Ciudad Guayana. It was next to it that ports began to be built in the middle of the last century. This was the result of the discovery of iron ore and other minerals. On this moment Ore processing work continues. A reservoir and hydroelectric power station were also installed on the river.
IN Lately The vast tropical grasslands of the Orinoco Basin are used as pasture for livestock. This entails unpleasant consequences, as herds of animals trample the grass and eat large quantities of plants, and the degradation of once fertile soils also occurs.
Tourism on the Orinoco River
The tourist base of the Orinoco River began to develop quite recently. Today this place is attractive to true adventurers. Tourists are offered exciting boat trips that allow them to explore all the canals of the river, get acquainted with the flora and fauna, and get in touch with the thousand-year-old culture of the local residents.
Traveling through the Orinoco can be considered such a popular destination today, as many places here are untouched and pristine. Travel agencies They offer many programs for every taste. Depending on your preferences, you can go canoeing, go fishing (piranha hunting is especially popular), take a walk in the jungle, or visit a Warao settlement. Both day and night programs are provided.
