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Orinoco Basin: Wildlife of Venezuela

Orinoco - a river in South America, which flows mainly through the territory of Venezuela, and then flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its length is 2736 kilometers.

The Orinoco River is the first open river in the New World. When in 1498 Christopher Columbus saw the mouth of the Orinoco River, he was so struck by the beauty of these places that he decided that this was one of the four rivers of paradise. The Warao Indians greeted the sailors in a friendly manner. But the tradition of the Indians to wear gold jewelry played a cruel joke on them. The conquistadors, driven by the gold rush and dreams of the golden city of Eldorado, moved deeper and deeper along the river, destroying everything in their path. But they failed to find the mythical golden city. The Warao Indians still live in the Orinoco Delta. Their number becomes only 20 thousand people.

And the Orinoco River originates at Mount Delgado Chalbaud in the Parima region, which is located almost on the border with Brazil. The origins of the Orinoco remained unexplored until the middle of the 20th century, partly due to flooded forests, tributaries, rapids and waterfalls, which made it very difficult for researchers to access these places. From here it turns in a wide arc from the southwest to the west, and then to the north. From its source, the river flows in a wide arc around the Guiana Highlands. Further, the Orinoco River flows through the southwestern part of the Guiana Lowland, where it forms a delta, and finally flows into the Gulf of Paria of the Atlantic Ocean.

In the lower reaches of the Orinoco, a delta of 41,000 km² forms, branching into hundreds of branches. At the same time, during floods, the width of the river can reach 22 kilometers with a depth of about 100 meters and a water flow of 33,000 m³ / s. The Ventuari, Caura, Caroni rivers are the right tributaries of the Orinoco, and the Guaviare, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure are left tributaries. On one of the tributaries of the Orinoco River, namely the Churun ​​River, there is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel Falls.

Orinoco - navigable river, and excavation allows ocean-going vessels to reach Ciudad Bolívar, which is located 435 km upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. Most Venezuelan rivers are tributaries of the Orinoco. A feature of the Orinoco River is that it is a classic example of the bifurcation of rivers. The Casiquiare River, which starts as a branch of the Orinoco and flows into the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon, forms a natural channel between the Orinoco and the Amazon. The Orinoco crosses the subequatorial belt, is mainly fed by rain and sharp fluctuations in water levels throughout the year. In the dry season, small tributaries of this river turn into a chain of small stagnant lakes.

Since ancient times, Venezuela and Colombia have been inhabited by the Warao Indians. Interestingly, "warao" is translated as "a man in a boat." And for good reason, as these Indians live in houses on stilts, without walls, right above the water, and canoes. For more than twelve thousand years they have been living here, in the Orinoco basin...

The river is also known for its Amazonian dolphins and Orinoco crocodile, the rarest species of crocodiles, and the world's largest reserves of tar sands (heavy oil).

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 a "river of paradise."

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. With an incredibly rich and colorful flora and fauna, the Orinoco Delta is no less impressive than such 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 (even in the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors visited these places in search of the mythical Eldorado), for a long time it remained unknown where this grandiose waterway originated. Only in the 50s of the last century was it 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 are distinguished by 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 ink black. At the same time, a strange pattern is noted: the lighter the color of the water, the greater the number of various insects and aquatic animals that live in the river and the coastal zone.

One of the most remarkable plants growing along the banks of the river is the Morice palm. From high (up to 30 meters) even trunks of palm trees, local residents make cellulose, use them in the construction of huts, and eat the core.

The greatest interest among tourists is caused by numerous national parks located near the Orinoco: El Avila, La Mucuy, Henri Pittier, Los Nevados and others. They are home to an incredible variety of bird and animal species, including ibis, flamingos, hawks, parrots, jaguars, cougars, the largest snakes on the planet - anacondas and even an endangered reptile species - Orinoco crocodiles. For many years, these reptiles were mercilessly exterminated by poachers for the sake of a beautiful skin. Currently, no more than 250 individuals remain, the species is listed in the Red Book.

Especially popular national park Sierra Nevada, where you can not only admire the beauties of nature, but also fly on a delta or paragliding, as well as 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. Aborigines consider this mountain sacred. Touching its surface, and even more so climbing the mountain, is strictly prohibited - you can only admire this natural miracle from afar.

Not only the beauty of nature, but also the opportunity to plunge into wonderful world original Indian tribes not corrupted by civilization attract tourists to the Orinoco coast. Most of the indigenous inhabitants of Venezuela live along the banks of the river. These are the Indians of such few tribes as the 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 right above the water, their main mode of transportation to this day remains the canoe. Even the name of the tribe - "Warao" - in translation means "a 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. Incredibly popular with tourists are canoe tours accompanied by warao guides who organize excursions in the jungle, as well as piranha hunting.

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 for this period that it is recommended to plan a trip to the Orinoco Delta.

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(Orinoco; in the language of the local Tamanak Indians Orinuku, literally - a river) a river in South America, Venezuela and Colombia. The length (according to various sources) is from 2500 to 2730 km, the basin area is 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, Kaura, Caroni; on the left - Guaviare, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure

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In the section of the upper reaches, the river separates from the Orinoco on the left. Casiquiare, along the channel of which about 1/3 of the flow goes into the river basin. Amazons. To the mouth of the river Meta. The Orinoco flows among the 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, the Orinoco turns into a full-flowing river up to 1-1.5 km wide, in some places - up to 3 km, and a depth of 10-20 m 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 Bolívar, after which the river flows through a wide valley to the mouth, branching into a large number of branches and channels. In the Barrancas region (200 km from the sea), an extensive (about 20 thousand km2) marshy Orinoco delta begins, stretching along the sea coast for about 300 km

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Orinoco is predominantly rain fed. Water levels and discharges fluctuate dramatically throughout the year. In the section of 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 highest height, after which a gradual decline is observed until March - April, when the level is the lowest. In the region of the mouth of the river Meta water rises - 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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In the dry season (November-April) in low-water years, the water flow decreases to 5-7 thousand m3/sec. Solid runoff is about 45 million tons per year. The total length of navigable routes in the Orinoco basin is about 12 thousand km. Ocean vessels 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 sections of the lower reaches, the left tributaries are navigable during most of the year. The hydropower resources of the Orinoco are still underutilized; under construction (1974) a system of hydroelectric power stations on the river. Caroni. Main cities: Santa Barbara, Puerto Ayacucho, Ciudad Bolívar, Puerto Ordaz (Venezuela); Puerto Carreno (Colombia).

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In 1498 X. 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 Meta and followed a small section of its course. In the early 1800s, 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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In the delta and floodplain of the Orinoco, there are many wading birds, there are more than 100 colonies of them. The spectacular scarlet ibis nests in trees scattered across the alliance, with a population of more than 65,000 pairs that make up a significant portion of the world's population of this bird. The region also breeds a large number of tree storks - about 5500 pairs, as well as many Brazilian yabiru, various kinds herons and ducks. The floodplain is of particular importance for two species of tree ducks. Savannah bird life is also unique, with ti-namu, Brazilian kariama and a rich variety of small songbirds, as well as numerous predators: hawks, falcons, kites, falcons and vultures. Pictured is Kariyama.

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Significant areas in the floodplain are used for grazing livestock, but now more and more attention is being paid to capybara breeding. The semi-aquatic capybara is the largest rodent in the world, reaching a weight of 80 kg. It is much more profitable for breeding than cattle, as it produces four times more meat per square meter of grazing land. In the savannah, white-tailed deer and numerous predators from the cat family: cougar, ocelot and jaguar are often found. Pictured is a capybara

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Angel (Spanish Salto Ángel) is the highest waterfall in the world, the total height is 1024 meters, the height of the continuous fall is 807 meters. Named after the pilot James Angel, who flew over the waterfall in 1935. On December 20, 2009, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez renamed (only in his country) Angel Falls, and now it is called Kerepakupai Merú . However, this does not mean that it (the waterfall) will be renamed on the world maps. The waterfall is located in tropical forests Venezuela, in the Canaima National Park. Water overthrows from the top of Auyantepui, the largest of the Venezuelan tepui - its name in Russian means "mountain of the devil".

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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 the local natives at 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 replete with quartz. On November 16, 1933, Angel spotted a tepui, called Auyantepui, during a flight, which caught his attention. On October 9, 1937, he returned and tried 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 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 (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's just 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 retrieved by helicopter. The aircraft was restored in the aviation museum of the city of Maracay, and now it stands right in front of the airport in Ciudad Bolivar. In 1994, UNESCO added the Canaima National Park, and therefore the waterfall, to 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 wall of the waterfall by free climbing.

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On December 20, 2009, on his weekly show, President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, in the wake of anti-imperialism, renamed the Angel Falls to Kerepakupai-meru, in accordance with one of its local names. Initially, the name Churun-meru was proposed, but the daughter of the President noticed that one of the smallest waterfalls in the area had such a name, after which Chavez suggested a different name. The President explained this decision by the fact 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. National Park Canaima.

Geography

Orinoco(from the Spanish Orinoco) is a river flowing in South America. It mainly flows through the territory of Venezuela and flows into. The length of the river reaches 2736 km. The source of the Orinoco is Mount Delgado Chalbaud, near Parim, it is on the border with Brazil. From there, in a wide arc, it turns from the southwest to the west, then to the north, and finally to the northeast, where it flows into the Gulf of Laria of the Atlantic Ocean. Down the Orinoco River spreads into hundreds of branches, forming a delta, the area of ​​​​which is 41,000 km2. In floods, the width of the river reaches 22 km, and the depth is up to 100 meters. Navigable, oceangoing ships are able to reach Ciudad Bolívar, which is 435 km from the Atlantic Ocean, if you sail upstream. Orinoco crosses the subequatorial belt. Orinoco main meal- rain, there are sharp fluctuations in water. During the dry season, some of the tributaries of this river become small stagnant lakes.

Delta Orinoco mostly inhabited by Warao Indians. This nationality ranks second in number, inhabiting Venezuela. Here you can get acquainted with the culture and customs of this people.

During the rainy season, usually between June and October, large areas are flooded with water, which leads to the formation of swamps. The local animal and bird world is very diverse. The most exotic species are found here, starting with the well-known anaconda and ending with the scarlet ibis.

Interesting Facts

• The Orinoco is a classic example of the bifurcation of rivers.
• The Orinoco is home to Amazonian dolphins.
• Orinoco is home to Orinoco crocodiles, this is the most rare view crocodiles.
• Orinoco stores the largest reserves of tar sands or, as it is also called, heavy oil.
• There are over 100 colonies of wading birds in the Orinoco Delta.

The Ohio River flows through the United States. It is a left tributary of the Mississippi River. Its length is 1580 km. The Ohio River Basin is formed by the confluence of the two rivers, the Allegheny and the Monongahila, which originate in the Appalachian Mountains. Thus, the area of ​​the basin is 528.1 thousand km2.
The river has several main tributaries. Of these, the right ones are the Miami, Wabash and Muskingham rivers, [...]

- one of the largest rivers in the world, occupying an honorable third place in length in South America. 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 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. A large number of bird species nest in the river delta, and many traditional Indian villages are located along the banks of the Orinoco.

In the waters of the river, there are such exotic animals as Amazonian dolphins or Orinoc crocodiles. A huge number of marsh birds live along the banks: tree storks, scarlet ibis, ducks, kites, herons, hawks and many others. In the swampy places of the river you can meet capybaras - large relatives guinea pigs, large cats such as jaguars, ocelots or cougars, as well as white-tailed deer and even large anacondas.

The banks of the Orinoco River are also the traditional place of residence for most of the indigenous Indian population of Venezuela. Basically, these are Indians of tribes of not the largest sizes - from 10 to 30 thousand people. It is extremely difficult to meet European-type people 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 Bolívar
• Santa Barbara
• Puerto Ayacucho

The emergence of cities in the Orinoco basin falls on the middle of the 20th century. That's when mining started here. iron ore and other minerals. But usually all these towns are small and stand 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 local city - Ciudad Guayana. Inhabited by almost a million inhabitants, it includes two settlements: Old city San Felix and the new city - Puerto Ordaz.