Orinoco is one of the largest river systems in the world. This is the most mysterious and bewitching river in South America. Despite its dangerous and unpredictable nature, its waters have attracted adventurers for centuries.
Discovery history
Since the discovery of South America, the Orinoco River has been inaccessible for a long time due to the jungle hiding it, and therefore unknown. The first mention of it can be found in the records of Christopher Columbus relating to his third expedition. The discoverer saw only the Orinoco Delta, but the picture that opened up struck him with its beauty.
This river is associated with the name of the Spaniard Diego de Ordaz, who spent half his life trying to find the mysterious place of El Dorado. It was he who was the first to study the wild nature of the Orinoco. In 1531, the German explorer Ambrosius Ehinger decided to study the river. At the same time, several other expeditions of an exploratory nature were made. Unfortunately, the description of the Orinoco River of those times has not come down to us.
It was remembered only at the beginning of the 19th century, when the Germantraveler 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 by the middle of the 20th century.
Geographic location of the river and its dimensions
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.
Almost all of the Orinoco flows through Venezuela, but 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 length of the Orinoco River is 2736 km, which makes it one of the longest bodies of water in South America. The width in different sections ranges from 250 m to 10 km. During floods, the Orinoco can overflow up to 22 km wide. 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. River transport moves only in the area of the full-flowing delta. This is a forced measure caused by the inconstancy of the nature of the reservoir. Here every 6-7 hours there are significant ebbs and flows that prevent ships from moving. The regime of the Orinoco River depends on the time of year and the season. In the dry season, it turns into a system of lakes and swamps, and in the rainy season it overflows.
The course of the Orinoco River at its source is southwestern. channelgradually bends in the form of an arc. Then the direction of the Orinoco River changes. It flows to the north and northeast. There the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The speed of the water flow is stably average along the entire length, except for 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 various sizes. This is due to the rocky and uneven surface of this area. The relief of the Orinoco River is flat in the lower and middle parts.
Closer to the Orinoco delta, it branches strongly, 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, the tributaries dry up or turn into small lakes
One of the tributaries of the Orinoco, the Casiquiare, connects it with the most famous and full-flowing river in South America, the Amazon.
Animals of the Orinoco River
The fauna of the Orinoco river system is unique. It has about 700 species of living beings. The waters of the river abound with fish. There are electric eels and catfish, weighing several pounds, which have been feeding the local population for many centuries. However, you should be wary of piranhas and crocodiles, which are found here in abundance. The Orinoco River area is home to thousands of bird species. Scarlet ibis, flamingos, colorful parrots live here. On the shores you can meet giant tortoises and other reptiles. Many monkeys live in the lower part of the river - capuchins, howler monkeys, macaques, as well as representatives of the cat family - ocelots, jaguars, cougars, etc.
Most tourists travel along the Orinoco River in the hope of seeing huge anacondas. But also here you can meet 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 taken under protection.
Flora of the river
The forest growing along the river is floodable. Therefore, the plant life here is lush and varied. In the lower reaches of the river, the flora is dense due to the large number of vines that make these places impassable. However, those who manage to walk through the Orinoc forests will be delighted with the abundant flowering of bromeliads and orchids.
Mangroves predominate among the trees. Their roots descend directly into the water, from where they receive food. In numerous mixed forests, tall palm trees and a variety of fruit trees grow abundantly.
The importance of the river in human economic life
There are practically no settlements off the coast of 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 Warao Indian tribes live here already.many years. Their small wooden houses are built on stilts and rise above the water. In addition to catching fish, they are engaged in transporting tourists along the Orinoco River. The very word "warao" is translated as "people of the boat", so closely this primitive tribe connects its life with water.
The largest of the few towns along the Orinoco River is Ciudad Guayana. It was next to it that in the middle of the last century they began to build ports. This was the result of the discovery of iron ore and other minerals. At the moment, work on the processing of ore continues. Also, a reservoir and a hydroelectric power station were installed on the river.
Recently, the vast tropical grasslands of the Orinoco Basin have been used as pastures for livestock. This backfires as herds of animals trample grass and eat large amounts of plants, and degrade once fertile soils.
Tourism on the Orinoco River
The tourist base of the Orinoco River began to develop quite recently. Today this place is attractive for real adventurers. Tourists are offered exciting boat trips that allow them to explore all the channels of the river, get acquainted with the flora and fauna, touch the thousand-year-old culture of the locals.
Traveling through the Orinoco can be attributed to such a popular destination today as eco-tourism. Many places here are untouched and pristine. Travel agencies offer a lotprograms 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 the Warao settlement. Both day and night programs are provided.
