Orinoco

The Orinoco is one of the longest rivers in South America. It is about 2,140 kilometers or 1,330 miles long. The river flows through Venezuela and Colombia. Most of the land around the river is in Venezuela.

Because the Orinoco gets a lot of rain, it carries a lot of water. It is the fourth largest river in the world for how much water it moves.

The Orinoco and its smaller rivers, called tributaries, help people travel in parts of Venezuela and Colombia. This is especially true in the flat lands known as the Llanos. The Guaviare River is the largest tributary of the Orinoco.

The area around the Orinoco has many different plants and animals. It is a place of great natural richness.

Etymology

The Orinoco River’s name comes from a word the Warao people used. It means “a place to paddle,” from their words for “paddle” and “place.” This tells us the river was a good spot for boats and canoes.

History

The mouth of the Orinoco River at the Atlantic Ocean was first seen by Christopher Columbus in 1498. In the 1500s, German explorers traveled up and down the river and its smaller rivers, like the Apure and Meta.

Later, explorer Alexander von Humboldt and his friend Aime Bonpland explored parts of the Orinoco in 1800. They wanted to show that South America's rivers were all connected, stretching from the Andes to the Amazon. They wrote about the animals and plants they found.

The exact beginning of the Orinoco River was found in 1951. In 1967, the first bridge over the river was built. More bridges and power lines were added later.

Map of the Lower Orinoco, 1897

Geography

The Orinoco River makes a wide, oval-shaped curve around the Guiana Shield. It has four parts:

• Upper Orinoco – This part is long and runs through mountains toward the northwest.
• Middle Orinoco – This section is long. It first flows west until it meets two rivers at San Fernando de Atabapo. Then it flows north along the Colombia–Venezuela border to the Atures rapids near Puerto Carreño.
• Lower Orinoco – This part is long and has a wide, flat area. It flows northeast from the Atures rapids to Barrancas.
• Delta Amacuro – The last part ends in a large delta that empties into the Gulf of Paría and the Atlantic Ocean. This delta is very big and can be wide.

At the river’s end, the Orinoco forms a huge delta with many smaller rivers and waterways. During rainy times, the Orinoco can become very wide and deep. The river’s slope is very gentle.

Many important rivers in Venezuela flow into the Orinoco. The largest is the Caroní, which joins it at Puerto Ordaz. Another major river is the Guaviare River. A special feature is the Casiquiare canal, which starts from the Orinoco and flows to the Rio Negro, part of the Amazon River. This links the Orinoco and the Amazon rivers.

Other rivers that join the Orinoco include Apure, Arauca, Atabapo, Caroní, Casiquiare canal, Caura, Guaviare, Inírida, Meta, Ventuari, and Vichada.

Discharge

Ciudad Guayana

The Orinoco River flows through Ciudad Guayana. This city is an important place for the river because many people live there and it helps the river stay healthy.

Ciudad Bolívar

Ciudad Bolívar is another city near the Orinoco River. It is also a special place for the river. People there help take care of the water.

Ecology

The Orinoco River is home to many animals and plants. You can find the boto, a special river dolphin, and the giant otter swimming in its waters. The Orinoco crocodile, one of the world's rarest reptiles, lives only in parts of the river.

The river has over 1,000 kinds of fish. Some well-known fish include the black spot piranha and the bright cardinal tetra. Many of these fish can move between different parts of the river because they can live in both dark and clear water.

Economic activity

The Orinoco River can be used by ships for most of its length. With dredging, big ocean ships can reach as far as Ciudad Bolívar. Small steamers carry goods to places like Puerto Ayacucho and the Atures Rapids.

In 1926, people found a lot of iron ore near the river’s delta. Mining started after World War II. The river area also has large tar sands that might be used for oil in the future.

Recreation and sports

Since 1973, a group called the Civil Association Nuestros Rios son Navegables has held a big boat race called the Internacional Rally Nuestros Rios son Navegables. The race goes more than 1,200 kilometers through the Orinoco, Meta, and Apure Rivers. It starts in either Ciudad Bolívar or San Fernando de Apure and is the longest river race in the world. Many people from around the world join in, with many support boats, teams, and fans.

Since 1988, the local government in Ciudad Guayana has held a swimming race in the Orinoco and Caroní Rivers. Since 1991, this race, called the Paso a Nado Internacional de los Rios Orinoco–Caroní, has happened every year in April. The race has become more popular and now has many competitors from all over the world.

In culture

The singer Enya wrote a popular song called "Orinoco Flow" in 1988. Many people in Europe and North America liked this song. The writer Jules Verne also wrote about the Orinoco River in his book called "Superbe Orénoque".