The Orinoco River is a paradise river. Description, description, photo, video. El Acha Waterfall

Guayana State   known for the "table" mountains and swampy jungles of the Orinoco River basin. The Orinoco Delta covers an area of \u200b\u200bapproximately 41,000 square meters. km and is the second largest in South America after the Amazon.

It is noteworthy that all the rivers in the Orinoco delta are colorful. The color of water can vary from light gray and pale yellow (the so-called white rivers) to dark coffee and even ink (black rivers). It depends on the components of the soil at the bottom, coastal vegetation, season, climate and many other factors.
  Interestingly, there are almost no mosquitoes around the black rivers, and caimans are not found in their waters. White rivers, on the contrary, are teeming with animals and there are innumerable insects. Color contrast is especially noticeable at the confluence of two rivers or at the confluence of the tributary into the mainstream. The water of two colors does not mix immediately, but for some time flow in parallel, as, for example, at the confluence of the Karoni River in Orinoco. The floodplain of the Orinoco and Apure rivers, together with their largest tributaries, forms a vast area of \u200b\u200bfanciful mosaics of slow, winding rivers and streams, floodplain swamps, swamp forests, freshwater lakes and flooded savannah forests. When Orinoco reaches the coast, the main full-flowing channel of the river is divided into a complex branched network of smaller branches with countless islands.

Moriche's palms growing here are decorated with Orinoco selva, whose straight and slender trunks reach 30 meters (their core is eaten). There are many birds in the Orinoco delta and floodplain; there are more than 100 colonies here. A large number of red ibis, tree storks, Brazilian apples, various species of herons and ducks nest in the region. The bird world of the savannah is also peculiar, here you can find tinama, Brazilian karyama and a rich variety of small songbirds and parrots, as well as numerous predators: hawks, falcons, kites, falcons and vultures.

White-tailed deer and numerous feline predators are often found in the savannah: cougar, ocelot, and jaguar. In the Orinoco selva, many varieties of monkeys also live, among which howler monkeys stand out. Their piercing screams are heard at a distance of up to 7 km. Freshwater lakes and delta rivers are home to a wide variety of creatures, including piranhas, caimans and the world's largest snake - anaconda.

On the banks of the numerous tributaries of the Orinoco, the Indians of Varao live, translated from the local dialect "people in canoe." They are mainly engaged in fishing and many of them do not know Spanish. Varao - skilled craftsmen, became famous for wickerwork, wood carvings, and especially wooden figures carved from balsa wood. Its wood is very light in weight and easy to process, balsa shuttles are excellent in water. Hammocks woven by palm fiber Varao Indians are very popular among Venezuelans.

You can get to the eco hotels of the Orinoco delta as follows: by plane from Caracas, Gran Roque (Los Roques archipelago) or about. Margarita to the airport of Maturin, and then by speed boat.

Climate

The climate in the Orinoco Delta is tropical humid. The average air temperature fluctuates around +26 - 27 C throughout the year, while nights here are sometimes quite cool. The rainy season lasts from April to November, and during this period the river becomes the most full-flowing, some roads on land are flooded. The dry season lasts from November to March.

DELINO ORINOKO	JAN	FEB	IDA	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEN	OCT	BUT I	DEC
Pace. air, C	25	25	26	27	27	26	26	26	27	27	26	25
Precipitation, mm	58	33	24	37	100	208	215	177	131	107	135	111

The Orinoco River 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 Orinoco the "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, and Mississippi. Thanks to the incredibly rich and colorful flora and fauna, the Orinoco delta makes no less impressive impression than such beautiful places on the planet as the Colored Cliffs of China, the Sea of \u200b\u200bStars (Maldives), Turkish Cappadocia or the beaches of the White Harbor in Australia.

Most of the river flows through Venezuela. Although the studies of Orinoco began quite a long time ago (back in the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadors visited these places in search of the mythical Eldorado), for a long time it remained unknown where this grandiose water artery originates from. It was only in the 50s of the last century that 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 are distinguished by an unusual color of water. Depending on the composition of the bottom soil and the characteristics of the 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 brighter the color of the water, the greater the number of various 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 Morice palm. From high (up to 30 meters) smooth 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 Orinoco: El Avila, La Mukuy, Enri Pittier, Los Nevados   other. They are home to an incredible variety of species of birds and animals, including ibis, flamingos, hawks, parrots, jaguars, cougars, the largest snakes on the planet - anacondas and even the endangered species of reptiles - Orinoco crocodiles. For many years, these reptiles were mercilessly destroyed by poachers for the sake of a beautiful hide. Currently, no more than 250 individuals remain, the species is listed in the Red Book.

The Sierra Nevada National Park is especially popular, where you can not only admire the beauties of nature, but also fly on a delta or paraglider, as well as take climbing lessons.

One of the main attractions of these places is the 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. It’s strictly forbidden to touch its surface, let alone climb a mountain — you can only admire this natural miracle from a distance.

Not only the beauty of nature, but also the opportunity to plunge into the wonderful world of original Indian tribes not corrupted by civilization attracts tourists on the coast of Orinoco. Most of the indigenous inhabitants of Venezuela live along the banks of the river. These are Indians of such a few tribes as the Guayacho, Guahiro, Tamanuki, Yanomami, Yaruro and others.

Rivers on the map

Perhaps the most famous people who inhabit these places are the Varao Indians, who spend almost their entire lives on the water. They live in huts arranged on stilts directly above the water, their main mode of transportation and canoeing remains today. Even the name of the tribe - "Varao" - 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, treated to local dishes. Canoeing tours accompanied by guides who organize excursions in the jungle, as well as piranha hunting, are incredibly popular among tourists.

The climate on the coast of Orinoco is humid and hot.   The average annual temperature is about 25-26 °, it often rains. 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.

Among piranhas, mangroves and Indians - AirPano invites you to travel through little Venice.

The first Europeans fell into the Orinoco Delta after Columbus. Here they saw the dwellings of the Varao Indians built on stilts and connected by bridges. This unpretentious architecture reminded them of Venice, and the new lands received the name Venezuela (“little Venice”). (If you understand toponymy, we suggest taking our test.)

“Varao” means “people of boats,” and all life in the delta is built around swimming facilities. Even the word "house" - janoko - means "place for a boat." This pretty well describes the attitude of the Indians to their home, which is usually a platform of planks or trunks of palm trees. Above is a rain roof, also made from palm or reed leaves. There are no walls at all. A few hammocks woven by women from the fibers of palm trees - that’s the whole simple way of life.

Varao boats have been able to sail since childhood. They rarely hunt, mainly fish and gather. Some communities grow vegetables and rice, if the soil permits. For the most part, the delta is a swamp with mangroves, and even walking here is difficult. During high tides, water covers the roots of trees, and marshy soil is exposed at low tide, and thousands of tiny crabs and millions of mosquitoes get out of their shelters.

Palm trees are not only a building material, but also a food source. A coconut worm, a large white larva, is planted in the trunk of a felled palm tree. A few weeks later, the worms gnaw the core to the state of loose rot. They dig out the dust, soak it in water, wipe it through a sieve, make a kind of dough and bake a “pie”. It tastes a bit sweet, sticky, but pleasant. The worms themselves are also a delicacy: they are eaten raw or fried.

The diet also includes fish - a very unusual one. There are many piranhas in small channels. Contrary to popular belief that they are bloodthirsty, they apparently do not represent a danger: both children and adults bathe right there. Indians cook delicious soup from piranhas, and sometimes birds that hunt from slingshots also get on the table. There are guns, but self-made, for one shot, with silicon locks, they are loaded from the barrel.

Families have large and large families. Nevertheless, the total number of people is small: only about 20,000 people. A very big problem is the lack of medical care, and as a result tuberculosis and fevers are common here. What difficulties doctors face in a similar area, we told in.

Despite the difficult living conditions, Varao smile a lot. Life in the jungle taught them to be content with the small and enjoy simple things. Earlier in Venezuela, there were state programs to support the Indians: schools were being built, electricity was being supplied to villages. But with the onset of a severe economic crisis, small nationalities were left to their own devices. They live like their ancestors lived hundreds of years ago, receiving everything they needed from nature, believe in a god-hunter and sail in their boats.

Photo and text: Sergey Shandin, Stanislav Sedov

Orinoco River in South America, it is the first open river of the New World. When in 1498 Christopher Columbus saw the mouth of the Orinoco River, he was so impressed by the beauty of these places that he decided that it was one of the four rivers of paradise. The Varao Indians welcomed the sailors in a friendly manner. But the Indians' tradition of wearing jewelry made of gold played a cruel joke with them. 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 could not find the mythical golden city.

Indians of Varao   still live in the Orinoco River Delta. Their number is only 20 thousand people.

Varao translates as “boat people,” which is related to their lifestyle. More photos .

River length:   2736 kilometers.

Catchment basin area:   1,086,000 km. sq.

Where does it flow:the Orinoco River originates near Mount Delgado Chalbaud in Venezuela near the border with Brazil. From the source, the river flows in a wide arc around the Guiana Highlands. The river changes its direction from southwest to west, then flows north and, finally, when it flows into the Atlantic Ocean - to the north-east. The origins of Orinoco remained unexplored until the middle of the twentieth century. In part, this is due to flooded forests, tributaries, valleys and waterfalls, which greatly impeded the access of researchers to these places. Until today, only two expeditions have been there. The Indians say that several small tribes still live at the origins of Orinoco. They get 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 you can see ancient drawings, whose age is three thousand years. They are drawn by the Arawak Indians. Even further downstream, the river spreads over a wide plain called here Lianos. In these plains lies the meaning of the life of the Llaneros - Venezuelan cowboys. Here they are engaged in cattle breeding. The linerosa are the descendants of the conquistadors, blacks, and slaves of the Indians, who once settled these lands. At the city of Ciudad Bolivar, the river narrows, after which it again flows through a wide valley. Orinoco is navigable from the delta all the way to Ciudad Bolivar.

In the lower reaches, Orinoco branches out into many branches and flows into the Atlantic Ocean forming a large delta with an area of \u200b\u200b41,000 km. sq.

River Mode: Orinoco eats mainly due to seasonal (mainly summer) rains, which causes an uneven flow of water. During summer floods, the width of the river can reach 22 km and a depth of 100 meters. During the dry season, small tributaries of the river turn into a chain of standing lakes. The average water flow rate is 33,000 m3 / s (varies depending on the season within 5-55 thousand m3 / s.). A feature of the river is the natural channel connecting Orinoco and the Amazon - it is the Casikyare River, which first branches off from Orinoco, and then flows into the Rio Negra (one of the tributaries of the Amazon). Most of the Venezuelan rivers are tributaries of the Orinoco.

Main tributaries:   Ventuari, Caura, Caroni - right tributaries; Guaviar, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure - left tributaries. On one of its tributaries, the Churun \u200b\u200bRiver, is the world's highest waterfall - Angel.

Biological resources:   Amazonian dolphins are found in the river and the rarest species of crocodiles in the world is the Orinok crocodile; on the banks you can see large rodents of capybaras.

Watch the video clip: “Wildlife of Venezuela. Somewhere in the Orinoco valleys "

South America is rich in many rivers, but it’s Orinoco   (Spanish: Río Orinoco) can be called a unique river. Most of its channel is located on the territory. The total length of the river is about 2.74 thousand km.

The area of \u200b\u200bthe river basin is 880 thousand km², water consumption is close to 30 thousand m³ / s.

Originating on a mountainside Delgado chalbaud   (Spanish: Montaña Delgado Chalbaud), located near Paris (on the border with), Orinoco turns in a wide arc to the west from the south-west, then to the north and, finally, to the north-east, where the Atlantic Ocean flows into the Gulf of Paria (Spanish: Golfo de Paria). More specifically, the river goes around a plateau and, crossing the southwestern part of the Guiana Lowland, flows into the ocean bay.

In the lower reaches, the Orinoco River branches into many small streams that form a river delta. The area of \u200b\u200bthe entire delta is about 41 thousand km². When floods begin, the river spreads, reaching a width of more than 22 km, and its depth at that moment reaches 100 m. The following rivers are right tributaries of the Orinoco: Caura (Spanish Río Caura), Caroni (Spanish Río Caroni), Ventuari (Spanish Río Ventuari). Left tributaries: (Spanish Río Apure), Guaviare (Spanish Río Guaviare), Arauca (Spanish Río Arauca), (Spanish Río Meta), Vichada (Spanish Río Vichada). On the river (Spanish Río Churun \u200b\u200b- a tributary of Caroni) is the highest waterfall in the world - (Spanish Salto Angel; about 980 m high)

The river is of interest for shipping, as ocean vessels can reach the city (Spanish: Ciudad Bolívar), moving upstream. Ciudad Bolivar is located 435 km from the ocean bay.

Orinoco is located in the subequatorial zone. If we talk about the nutrition of the river, then basically the river is filled due to heavy tropical rains. Therefore, the river is characterized by sharp fluctuations in water level: in the dry season, several tributaries of Orinoco turn into small standing lakes.

When in 1498 the great navigator first saw the mouth of Orinoco, he called it the "Paradise River" - he was so struck by the beauty of these places. The Warao Indians who met the travelers were very friendly. But greed and indomitable thirst for gold set local residents against the conquistadors. The Spaniards were obsessed with the search for the mythical city of gold - Eldorado (Spanish Eldorado), moving up the river, they destroyed absolutely everything in their path. However, there was no “Golden City”.

Locals

What attracts tourists so much to the South American Orinoco River? Partly because of the incredible beauty of the natural world of the basin, partly because of the Indians living in the Orinoco delta. The indigenous inhabitants of Venezuela, as a rule, live along the banks of the river.

The delta of the river is inhabited mainly by the Varao Indians, who in their numbers occupy the second position in Venezuela: the number of Varao reaches more than 20 thousand people. This nationality inhabits the territory of the Orinoco delta for more than 12 thousand years. The Warao tribe is known as the "people in the boat." They probably got that name because they build their houses on stilts above the water. Interestingly, there are no walls in the houses. Canoe is used as a vehicle for warao.

Arriving in Venezuela, tourists can get to know the Indians closer, with their original culture and way of life. Varao is quite friendly, they can treat tourists with traditional dishes of local cuisine. Travelers are very fond of canoe tours, where the conductor is the Indian-Varao. Indians organize jungle excursions, and can also arrange piranha hunting.

In addition to the Varao tribe, such tribes as the Yaruro, Guayacho, Tamanuki, Guahiro, and many others live in the Orinoco Delta. It should be noted that the tribes of the Native Indians are quite few.

Flora and fauna Orinoco

In the rainy season, starting in June and ending in October, the river spills over large areas, which leads to the appearance of swamps. The fauna of the river is unusually rich and diverse.

Travelers can contemplate exotic representatives of the fauna: a giant anaconda, white ibis, cougar, parrots, hawks, jaguars, flamingos and many other species.

In addition, in the waters of the river you can see the Amazonian dolphins and the Orinok crocodile, which is the rarest species of representatives of this genus. Orinoco crocodiles have long been exterminated by poachers because of their valuable and beautiful skin. Orinoc crocodiles are listed in the Red Book, since there are no more than 250 of them left.

As for birds, there are more than 100 colonies of marsh birds. The most noteworthy plant growing in the river delta is Morice palm, famous for its perfectly even trunks up to 30 m high. Residents make cellulose from this palm. In addition, the Morice palm is one of the main materials for the construction of huts. The core of the tree is edible.