Orinoco river in South America on the map. Orinoco River Basin: wild fauna of Venezuela. Flora of the river

Orinoco (Orinoco; in the language of the local Tamanak Indians Orinuku, literally - river)

river in South America, in Venezuela and Colombia. Length (according to various sources) from 2500 to 2730 km, pool area 1086 thousand. km 2. 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 the left - Guaviare, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure. Location on upstream the river is separated from the O. on the left. Casiquiare, along the bed of which about 1/3 of the flow goes into the river basin. Amazon (see Bifurcation of rivers). To the mouth of the river Meta O. flows through mountainous and hilly terrain, forming rapids and rapids, especially in the area between the mouths of the river. Vichada and Meta. In the middle reaches of the O. it turns into a full-flowing river with a width of up to 1-1.5 km, in some places - up to 3 km, depth - 10-20 m and more. Wide (3-10 km) the 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 a large number of branches and channels. In the Barrancas area (200 km from the sea) begins extensive (about 20 thousand. km 2) the swampy delta of O., extending along sea ​​coast by about 300 km. In the delta section, the river is divided into 36 branches and many channels. The main branches are: Manamo (far left), Macareo (navigable along it), Araguao, Merejana, Boca Grande (right and largest; its width is 15-20 km).

The lake is predominantly fed by rain. 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 greatest height, after which there is a gradual decline until March - April, when the level is lowest. Near the mouth of the river. Meta water rises - 8-10 m, near Ciudad Bolivar - 10-15 m above low horizons. Sea tides spread up the river to the city of Ciudad Bolivar. At spring tide the level increase is about 2 m. The average annual water flow at the top of the delta is about 29 thousand. m 3 /sec, annual flow about 915 km 3. During periods of very powerful floods, the maximum water flow reaches 50-55 thousand. m 3 /sec and more. During the dry season (November - April) in low-water years, water consumption decreases to 5-7 thousand. m 3 /sec. Solid waste is about 45 million. T in year. The total length of shipping routes in the O. basin is about 12 thousand. km. Ocean-going vessels with a draft of up to 8 m rise to Ciudad Bolivar (about 400 km from the mouth). During the rainy season, river boats rise to the river. Guaviare (with breaks at the rapids). The right tributaries of the O. are suitable for navigation only in the lower reaches; the left tributaries are navigable for most of the year. The hydroelectric resources of the island are still poorly used; 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).

In 1498, Columbus reached one of the mouth branches of the O. In 1499, members of the Spanish expedition A. Ojeda and A. Vespucci are believed to have seen one of the branches of the O. In 1531, the Spanish conquistador Diego Ordaz first climbed the O. to the mouth of the river. Meta and followed small area its currents. At the beginning of 1800, the German scientist A. Humboldt, together with the French botanist E. Bonpland, traveled through the Ocean and established a connection between the systems of the Ocean and the Amazon. The origins of O. were discovered by a Franco-Venezuelan expedition in 1951.

Lit.: Grelier J., Aux sources de l "Orénoque, P., 1954; Gómez P. R., La hoya hidrográfica del Orinoco y la Orinoquia Colombiana, "Boletin de la Sociedad Geografica de Colombia", 1960, v. 18, no. 65; Perrin P ., Caractéristiques générales des rivières vénézuéliennes, “Revue de géographie Alpine”, 1969, v. 57, fasc. 2.

A. P. Muranov.

Big Soviet encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

See what "Orinoco" is in other dictionaries:

River in Venezuela and Colombia. In the language of the Tama Nucan Indians, Orinoco is a big river. See also Venezuela, Llanos Orinoco. Geographical names world: Toponymic dictionary. M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001... Geographical encyclopedia

Orinoco- at the confluence of the river. Caroni. Orinoco (Orinoco; in the language of the Tamanuk Indian tribe big river), a river in Colombia and Venezuela. Length 2730 km, basin area about 1 million km2. It originates on the western slopes of the Serra Parima mountains, at an altitude... ... Encyclopedic reference book "Latin America"

Exist., number of synonyms: 1 river (2073) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

- (Orinoco), a river in Venezuela and Colombia. 2730 km, basin area over 1 million km2. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a delta. Main tributaries: Caura, Caroni, Guaviare, Meta, Arauca, Apure. Average consumption water about 29 thousand m3/s. Below… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Orinoco- a river in Venezuela and Colombia. In the language of the Tama Nucan Indians, Orinoco is a big river. See also Venezuela, Llanos Orinoco... Toponymic dictionary

- (Orinoco; in Indian ringed snake) one of the main rivers South America, originates in Venezuelan Guiana, on the top of Ferdinand Lesseps, in the Sierra Parima mountains, one of the main chains of the Guiana Highlands, at an altitude of 1600 m. ur. m.;... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron

Orinoco- (Orinoco) Orinoco, a river in the north of South America, which originates in the southeast. Venezuela and flows for 2060 km in a large arc through Venezuela, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean as a wide delta. Part of its length the river forms the border between... ... Countries of the world. Dictionary

River in Venezuela and Colombia. 2730 km, area of ​​the St. 1 million km². It flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a delta. Main tributaries: Caura, Caroni, Guaviare, Meta, Arauca, Apure. Average water consumption approx. 29 thousand m³/s. Below the city of Barrancas... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Coordinates: 2°19′05″ N. w. 63°21′42″ W. d. / 2.318056° n. w. 63.361667° W d. ... Wikipedia

Books

• Tales of Jean-Marie Cabidulin. The Magnificent Orinoco, Jules Verne. The thirteenth volume of the series `The Unknown Jules Verne` includes new translations of the novels `The Tales of Jean-Marie Cabidoulin` (1901) and `The Magnificent Orinoco`...

The Orinoco River is one of the most big rivers South America. Its length is 2410 km, and its area drainage basin covers 880 thousand square meters. km. Moreover, 76.3% of the area is in Venezuela, and the rest is in Colombia. The water flow bends around Venezuela in a wide arc and flows into the Atlantic Ocean near the island of Trinidad, forming a huge delta at the mouth. This is the most important transport route in northern South America.

From source to mouth

The river flow begins its path on the Parima mountain range (Guiana Plateau) at an altitude of 1047 meters above sea level. These are the foothills of Mount Delgado Chalbaud. The ridge serves as a natural watershed between the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. The source is located in Venezuela very close to the border with Brazil.

The path of the water flow is an ellipsoidal arc that goes around the Guiana Plateau from the west. The entire river is divided into 4 sections of different lengths. These are upper, middle, lower and delta.

Orinoco River on the map of South America

Upper section has a length of approximately 250 km. It stretches from the source to the rapids of Raudalis de Guajaribos. It is a mountainous area and the water flows in a northwest direction.

Middle section is approximately 750 km long. For the first 480 km, the river flows west until the confluence of such rivers as the Atabapo from the east and the Guaviare from the west. Near the city of San Fernando de Atabapo, the water flow turns north and flows 270 km along the Venezuela-Colombia border. Near the city of Puerto Carreño, the lower section begins after the confluence of the Meta rivers from the west and Puerto Carreño from the east.

Lower section reaches a length of almost 1000 km. It is characterized by a well-developed floodplain, and the water moves in a northeast direction. This section ends near the city of Barrancas.

Delta has a length of 200 km. Its area is 41 thousand square meters. km. At its widest point its width reaches 370 km. It is a whole network of narrow rivers and streams flowing to the ocean among swampy forests.

Bird's eye view of the river delta

During the rainy season, the river can flood up to 22 km wide. Moreover, the depth in some places reaches 100 meters. But during the dry season, the water level drops, and many islands appear on the river surface, and some channels turn into lakes.

Amazon connection

From the Orinoco you can get to the Amazon, since between the two water pools there is a natural connection. It is carried out through the Casiquiare River (326 km long). It is a branch of the river we are considering in its upper section, flows south and flows into the Rio Negro. This deep stream is a tributary of the Amazon.

Shipping

The water stream is navigable along most of its length. Ocean-going ships, due to dredging of the bottom, reach the city of Ciudad Bolivar. It is 435 km upstream from the coast. River boats carry cargo to Puerto Ayacucho.

Pink river dolphin

Animal world

The river is home to river dolphins and giant otters. Also home to one of the rarest reptiles in the world, the Orinoco crocodile. There are more than 1000 species of fish. Some of them live only in brackish or salt water near the mouth. Black piranhas and cardinal tetras are also common in the water. The latter fish is very popular in home aquariums, but its original homeland is the Rio Negro, which once again confirms its connection with the Amazon.

Minerals

In 1926, rich deposits of iron ore were discovered in the river area. Its mass production began in the second half of the last century. River sediments contain tar (oil) sand. In the future it may become a source of oil production.

There are still such settlements along the banks.

Historical reference

The Orinoco River was first officially documented by Columbus in August 1498 during his 3rd voyage. The delta and tributaries up to the Meta River were explored in the 16th century by a German expedition led by Ambrosius Ehinger. In 1531, Diego de Ordaz sailed from the confluence of the Meta tributary to the mouth. In 1800, Alexander von Humboldt, who explored the basin, reported pink river dolphins. Singer Enya created the song “Orinoco Flow”, dedicated to the exotic river flowing through the northern lands of South America.

- 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. Breeds in the river delta a large number of species of birds, 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. It was then that the mining of iron ore and other minerals began here. 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: Old city San Felix and new town- 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, Orinoco has been 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 Eldorado. 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 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 full-flowing river South America - 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 you can also find very rare animals here - pink and gray river dolphins, 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. That's why plant life it is lush and varied. 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. In numerous mixed forests Tall palm trees and various fruit trees grow abundantly.

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 are built on stilts and rise 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 meadows of the Orinoco basin are used as pastures 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, allowing you to explore all the river channels, 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 classified as 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.

Orinoco from the languages ​​of almost all Indian tribes of the basin is translated simply - River, exactly like that - as a proper name, with respect.
And this means that she is both “great” and “great,” as this translation is sometimes expanded. The Warao Indians living in the Orinoco Delta call it “The River You Can Dip an Oar In,” that is, “navigable river,” and their self-name means “boat people.” Also called Orinoco and the Guajiro Indians. How long ago people began to settle on the banks of the Orinoco is still not fully clarified; there is only one evidence that they lived here at least three thousand years ago, these are the rock paintings of the Arawakan Indians on the border of Venezuela and Colombia, passing along the river.
The Orinoco begins with a fast stream in the Venezuelan state of Amazonas, near the border with Brazil, on the slopes of Mount Dilgado Chilbaud in the Serra Parima ridge of the Guiana Highlands. Numerous rivers flow into it from it and the spurs of the Andes in the west, and the Orinoco current in the upper reaches is rapidly gaining strength. Skirting the Guiana Highlands, before the confluence of the Meta River, the Orinoco passes through many rapids and rapids, the most significant of which are Maipures and Atures. In some places in the upper reaches of the Orinoco, low waterfalls - up to 17 m - are formed. Having descended from the heights of the highlands, the river then flows through the Guiana Lowland, expanding to 3-10 km. In the gorges, called angosturas (gorges) in Venezuela, the Orinoco channel narrows in places to 250 m. Below the major port The river - Ciudad Bolivar - its bed widens sharply, and in the area of ​​​​the city of Barrancas it branches, forming a complex network of water channels and oxbow lakes, spilling between land areas overgrown with dense humid jungle and mangroves. They are adjacent to numerous lagoons and swamps. This network forms 36 branches spread across large area. The most significant of them - Boca Grande - has a width of up to 20 km, and the most convenient for navigation is Macareo. These two natural channels flow into the Gulf of Paria of the Atlantic Ocean, most of the remaining branches flow into the Boca del Serpiente Strait, between the continent and the island of Trinidad.

Story

When Christopher Columbus on August 1, 1498, during his third expedition to New World, saw the Orinoco Delta, he called it " heavenly river”, and it can be understood. Natural world The delta is unusually rich and colorful. Many tall palm trees rush to the sky, fruit trees are hung with ripe fruits, orchids, bromeliads and other strange flowers bloom under their crown. tropical plants, tree and liana-like ferns extend their powerful feather-like leaves. It is home to jaguars, ocelots, capuchin monkeys, giant otters, manatees, hundreds of species of birds, as well as anacondas, caimans and crocodiles. The Warao Indians, who still live in the delta today, were friendly to the newcomers, but the Spaniards had no time for them: obsessed with the desire to find El Dorado, they were sure that the country of their dreams was somewhere close. They did not encounter anything similar and took out their frustration on the same Warao, destroying their villages. For a very long time, the Orinoco was considered in Europe the most mysterious river in South America. Its source was discovered only in 1951. But the delta was explored back in the 16th century. In 1531, the conquistador Diego de Ordaz walked from the mouth of the Orinoco to the Meta River in search of the same Eldorado; this was, by the way, the first such deep penetration of a European into the South American continent in history. In the same year, the delta was explored by the expedition of the German Ambrosius Ehinger. big Adventure the Orinoco and its tributaries were carried out by the Governor of Trinidad, Antonio de Berrio. And the first one is for real Scientific research The Orinoco was made by the founder of vegetation geography, Alexander Humboldt, who described the features of the river, its flora and fauna, and he was the first to describe the river pink dolphin.

Nature

The life cycles of the river are directly related to the wet and dry seasons. During the rainy season, the water in the Orinoco rises by 8-10 m and vast expanses of water form in the lowlands, and when the water subsides, many small tributaries of the Orinoco turn into chains of small closed swamps, immediately populated malaria mosquitoes. Then everything is even more severe: in the open spaces of the savannah in the middle reaches, the grasses wither, clouds of dust begin to circulate, some trees even shed their leaves. Apart from the thickets of the delta, during the drought period only the tropical palm gallery forests of the southwestern part of the Llanos Orinoco, stretching parallel to the water flow, are completely preserved. And of course, cacti in the savannah.
Bird world The savannah is no less diverse than the delta region, home to a huge number of species of ibises, herons, storks, flamingos and other wading birds, wood ducks, as well as parrots, hawks, kites, falcons and vultures. In savannas there are a myriad of insect species, and large colonies of termites are also often found.
And the main predators, just like in the delta, are jaguars, pumas and ocelots. In general, counting all the species of fish, crustaceans, birds, reptiles and mammals living in the Orinoco basin, we can talk about many hundreds of species. And all this rich animal world, judging by the fact that drought does not harm its numbers high damage, perfectly adapted to the extremes of the local climate. It is the person who does the harm. Rare species reptiles - the Orinoco crocodile - today is listed in the Red Book; only 250 individuals of this endemic Orinoco remain due to the fact that poachers killed it for its beautiful skin. Several dozen more species of mammals are on the verge of survival, and for the same reason.

Population

Most of Venezuela's indigenous population lives along the banks of the Orinoco. These are Indians of relatively numerous tribes (from 10 to 30 thousand people): Tamanuki, Guayacho, Makiritare, Yaruro, Yanomami, Warao, Guajiro (this tribe, in addition, lives on Lake Maracaibo); mestizos, people of the European type - a small number. The growth of cities and ports in the Orinoco Basin began around the middle of the 20th century, when the mining of iron ore and other minerals began in the Guiana Highlands, but, as a rule, all these towns, standing on elevated places for protection from flooding, are small. Most Big city Orinoco basin - Ciudad Guayana at the confluence of Orinoco and Caroni, it was created in 1961 near the largest hydroelectric power station in Macagua and the Guri reservoir and stretches 40 km. With a population of more than 900,000 people, it includes two cities: the old one, San Felix (founded in 1576) and the new one, Puerto Ordaz (founded in 1952).
There are plantations of agricultural crops and pastures on the Llanos Orinoco, but their areas in our time are not so significant that we can talk about serious economic development of these spaces by humans. With the exception of oil production in the oil-bearing, or, scientifically, bituminous sands of the “Orinoco belt”, in which oil is contained in the form of oil shale. Experts call this kind of oil “unconventional”: its carriers require processing already at initial stage their prey. In 2011, OPEC announced that Venezuela, thanks mainly to the tar sands of the Orinoco Belt (previously not taken into account much), had become the world leader in oil reserves. A year later, the BP Corporation confirmed the same position: as of December 31, 2011, Venezuela had 296.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, or 17.9% of its total world reserves, while Saudi Arabia, which for many years held the world record for oil reserves, had 265.4 billion barrels on the same date.

general information

Source: Mount Dilgado Chilbaud (Guiana Highlands) at an altitude of 1047 m.

Mouth: Gulf of Paria of the Atlantic Ocean.
Food: mainly rain.
Largest tributaries: right - Ventuari, Kaura, Caroni; left - Guaviare, Vichada, Meta, Arauca, Apure.

Largest cities and ports: Ciudad Guayana, which includes San Felix and Puerto Ordaz, Ciudad Bolivar, Santa Barbara, Puerto Ayacucho.

Largest reservoir: Guri (on the Karoni River).

Nearest airports: - international Airport Simon Bolivar; Ciudad Guayana - Manuel Carlos PR Airport; Ciudad Bolivar - Ciudad Bolivar Tomás de Jerez Airport.

Numbers

Maximum depth: 100 m.

Water consumption: 30,000 m 3 /s (varies depending on the season within the range of 5-55,000 m 3 /s).
Annual flow: about 915 km 3 .

Pool area: 1086 thousand km 2. 76.3% of it belongs to Venezuela, the rest to Colombia.

Delta area: 41,000 km2.

Total length of shipping lanes in the Orinoco Basin: about 12,000 km.

Economy

Natural resources of the Orinoco basin: oil, gas, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, vanadium, chromium, bauxite, gold, diamonds.
Industry: ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy(aluminum smelting), pulp and paper and food industry in Ciudad Guayana. A cascade of hydroelectric power stations on the Caroni River in the Orinoco Basin with reservoirs providing 76.3% of Venezuela's electricity needs.
Agriculture: cattle breeding, cultivation of cassava, corn, cotton, rice.
Fishing.
Shipping: vessels with a displacement of 8 tons reach from the mouth to Ciudad Bolivar (435 km from the mouth), lighter ones during the Orinoco flood period reach Puerto Ayacucho (1127 km).
Service sector: ecological tourism.

Climate and weather

Throughout the year the temperature does not drop below +20°C.

The average temperature even in the coolest months of the dry season is +25° - +26°C, and at the beginning and end of the rainy season it reaches +29°C.
Average annual precipitation: in the north of the Orinoco Plain - 800 mm, in the south - up to 1000 mm.

Attractions

Curious facts