Orinoco
The Orinoco (Spanish pronunciation: [oɾiˈnoko]) is one of the longest rivers in South America at 2,250 kilometres (1,400 mi).
| Orinoco River Río Orinoco | |
|---|---|
Orinoquia Bridge near Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela | |
The Orinoco drainage basin | |
Mouth location in Venezuela | |
| Etymology | Warao for "a place to paddle" |
| Location | |
| Countries | |
| Region | South America |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Hydrological source (Main stem) |
| • location | Cerro Delgado-Chalbaud, Parima Mountains, Venezuela |
| • coordinates | 2°19′05″N 63°21′42″W |
| • elevation | 1,047 m (3,435 ft) |
| 2nd source | Geographical source (Orinoco-Guaviare-Guayabero-Papamene-Sorrento) |
| • location | Headwaters of Rio Sorrento, Paramo de Sumapaz, Meta, Colombia |
| • coordinates | 3°34′2″N 74°31′23″W (approximately) |
| • elevation | 3,530 m (11,580 ft) (approximately) |
| Mouth | Delta Amacuro |
• location | Atlantic Ocean, Venezuela |
• coordinates | 8°37′N 62°15′W |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 2,250 km (1,400 mi) |
| Basin size | 989,000 km2 (382,000 sq mi) |
| Depth | |
| • maximum | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Orinoco Delta, Atlantic Ocean |
| • average | (Period of data: 1926–2011)37,740 m3/s (1,333,000 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 21,000 m3/s (740,000 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 54,000 m3/s (1,900,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela (Basin size: 836,000 km2 (323,000 sq mi)) |
| • average | ( Period: 1926–2011)32,760 m3/s (1,157,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela ( Basin size: 342,000 km2 (132,000 sq mi)) |
| • average | (Period: 1926–2011)16,182 m3/s (571,500 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Masagua, Colombia (Basin size: 101,000 km2 (39,000 sq mi)) |
| • average | 4,400 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Tama Tama, Venezuela (Basin size: 37,870 km2 (14,620 sq mi) |
| • average | 1,400 m3/s (49,000 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Casiquiare, Atabapo, Guaviare, Vichada, Tomo, Cinaruco, Capanaparo, Meta, Arauca, Apure, Guárico |
| • right | Mavaca, Sipapo, Ocamo, Ventuari, Suapure, Parguaza, Caura, Cuchivero, Aro, Caroní |
Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers 989,000 km2 (382,000 sq mi), with 76% of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia. It is the fourth largest river in the world by discharge volume of water. The Orinoco River and its tributaries are the major transportation system for eastern and interior Venezuela and the Llanos of Colombia. The environment and wildlife in the Orinoco's basin are extremely diverse.
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