Orinoco Online

Ethnicity
Landmarks
Collection

1. Cocuy Rock
Taking its name from the legendary Indian Chief Cocuy, this majestic yet solitary rock displays the profile of an Indian’s face along the lines of its peak. Located in the southernmost part of Venezuela, where the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia converge, Cocuy Rock has 365 of its 472 meters visible at water level.

2. The Duida
Dr. George H. H. Tate first explored its summit in 1928 in an expedition sponsored by New York’s American Museum of Natural History. He discovered a plateau of 47 by 32 kilometers with three elevations, the highest one 2,425 meters tall, and the lowest, 1,400 meters. Sources of water that later give rise to the Cunucunuma converge in this lower area. The Duida harbors an abundant variety of plant life, insects, reptiles, and birds.

3. The Marahuaca
The Marahuaca is a tepuy made up of four gigantic plateaus that comprise an area of 238 square kilometers, reaching a height of 2,895 meters. It has many picturesque waterfalls among its powerful column-like walls, and contains an infinite variety of animal and plant species. This 600-million-year-old place was the inspiration behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s acclaimed book, The Lost World. The Marahuaca’s base borders the Orinoco, Padamo, and Cunucunuma rivers, and it is considered a sacred mountain by the Ye’kuanas.

4. The Huachamakari
The Huachamakari measures only 87.5 square kilometers, and it reaches a height of only 1,750 meters. Yet it is one of the most striking tepuys in the region due to its pink and golden-colored walls, its thick forests, the great variety of plant and animal populations, and the three beautiful waterfalls that flow from its peak. One of these waterfalls, the Matuhushi, drops an impressive 500 meters.

5. The Autana
Situated in the northwestern part of the Amazon State, the Autana mountain reaches an altitude of 1,450 meters. It is known for its shape, reddish sands, and underground caves that traverse it from east to west, at about 150 meters below its peak. The cave openings, up to 17 meters in size, reveal an interior of rose-colored quartz.

6. The Neblina Peak
The tallest peak in the region (3,014 meters), Neblina is situated between Venezuela and Brazil to the south of the Amazon State. Its two elevations are Pico Da Neblina in Brazil and Pico Phelps in Venezuela, the latter named in honor of naturalist Dr. William H. Phelps. The Baria River flows from this mountain, across a steep canyon that measures almost 3,000 meters in depth.

7. Culimacari Rock
At a distance of about four miles from the mouth of the Casiquiare is the colossal Rock of Culimacari, a bare oval that rises 30 meters above the surrounding trees. From this perch, the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt made important astronomical observations.

8. Convergence of three rivers: Orinoco-Guaviare-Atabapo
In front of San Fernando de Atabapo, three rivers converge: the crystalline waters of the Orinoco, from the high mountains; the sandy waters of the largest tributary of the Orinoco, the Guaviare, which crosses the Colombian plains; and the fresh, clean waters of the Atabapo, which appear black due to the tannin from surrounding vegetation.

9. Delta
The large Ventuari River delivers its crystalline waters to the Orinoco by way of a delta that is formed by a multitude of islands where spectacular palm trees grow.

10. Casiquiare Bifurcation
The Orinoco bifurcates at Tama-Tama, and a third of its waters then are routed towards the Amazon basin by way of the Casiquiare channel or river. This river’s turbulent water traverses 320 kilometers towards the south and then converges with the Guainía River to form the Río Negro. The 800-kilometer stretch of this river culminates in the Amazon.

11. Atures and Maipures Rapids
Across from Puerto Ayacucho, the violent Atures and Maipures rapids make this 80-kilometer stretch of the Orinoco impossible to navigate. The rapids are known for the sheer volume of water coursing across the rocky channel, and the thundering sound it produces.

12. Orinoco River
Some 200 streams and 600 tributaries flow into the impressive Orinoco, the third largest river in the world, spanning 2,140 kilometers. It begins at an altitude of 1,047 meters at the Delgado Chalbaud mountain in the southeastern tip of the Amazon State, travels first north, then turns sharply east. Finally, it reaches the ocean by way of some 300 channels that make up a delta of about 30,000 square kilometers. During the rainy season, the river reaches a width of 22 kilometers at San Rafael de Barrancas and a depth of 100 meters. 1,670 kilometers of it are navigable, and about 341 of those can be used for sailing large ships. Some of Colombia’s largest rivers flow into the Orinoco River’s vast basin, which covers over one million square kilometers.

Ethnicity Landmarks Collection

1. Cocuy Rock Taking its name from the legendary Indian Chief Cocuy, this majestic yet solitary rock displays the profile of an Indian’s face along the lines of its peak. Located in the southernmost part of Venezuela, where the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia converge, Cocuy Rock has 365 of its 472 meters visible at water level. 2. The Duida Dr. George H. H. Tate first explored its summit in 1928 in an expedition sponsored by New York’s American Museum of Natural History. He discovered a plateau of 47 by 32 kilometers with three elevations, the highest one 2,425 meters tall, and the lowest, 1,400 meters. Sources of water that later give rise to the Cunucunuma converge in this lower area. The Duida harbors an abundant variety of plant life, insects, reptiles, and birds. 3. The Marahuaca The Marahuaca is a tepuy made up of four gigantic plateaus that comprise an area of 238 square kilometers, reaching a height of 2,895 meters. It has many picturesque waterfalls among its powerful column-like walls, and contains an infinite variety of animal and plant species. This 600-million-year-old place was the inspiration behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s acclaimed book, The Lost World. The Marahuaca’s base borders the Orinoco, Padamo, and Cunucunuma rivers, and it is considered a sacred mountain by the Ye’kuanas. 4. The Huachamakari The Huachamakari measures only 87.5 square kilometers, and it reaches a height of only 1,750 meters. Yet it is one of the most striking tepuys in the region due to its pink and golden-colored walls, its thick forests, the great variety of plant and animal populations, and the three beautiful waterfalls that flow from its peak. One of these waterfalls, the Matuhushi, drops an impressive 500 meters. 5. The Autana Situated in the northwestern part of the Amazon State, the Autana mountain reaches an altitude of 1,450 meters. It is known for its shape, reddish sands, and underground caves that traverse it from east to west, at about 150 meters below its peak. The cave openings, up to 17 meters in size, reveal an interior of rose-colored quartz. 6. The Neblina Peak The tallest peak in the region (3,014 meters), Neblina is situated between Venezuela and Brazil to the south of the Amazon State. Its two elevations are Pico Da Neblina in Brazil and Pico Phelps in Venezuela, the latter named in honor of naturalist Dr. William H. Phelps. The Baria River flows from this mountain, across a steep canyon that measures almost 3,000 meters in depth. 7. Culimacari Rock At a distance of about four miles from the mouth of the Casiquiare is the colossal Rock of Culimacari, a bare oval that rises 30 meters above the surrounding trees. From this perch, the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt made important astronomical observations. 8. Convergence of three rivers: Orinoco-Guaviare-Atabapo In front of San Fernando de Atabapo, three rivers converge: the crystalline waters of the Orinoco, from the high mountains; the sandy waters of the largest tributary of the Orinoco, the Guaviare, which crosses the Colombian plains; and the fresh, clean waters of the Atabapo, which appear black due to the tannin from surrounding vegetation. 9. Delta The large Ventuari River delivers its crystalline waters to the Orinoco by way of a delta that is formed by a multitude of islands where spectacular palm trees grow. 10. Casiquiare Bifurcation The Orinoco bifurcates at Tama-Tama, and a third of its waters then are routed towards the Amazon basin by way of the Casiquiare channel or river. This river’s turbulent water traverses 320 kilometers towards the south and then converges with the Guainía River to form the Río Negro. The 800-kilometer stretch of this river culminates in the Amazon. 11. Atures and Maipures Rapids Across from Puerto Ayacucho, the violent Atures and Maipures rapids make this 80-kilometer stretch of the Orinoco impossible to navigate. The rapids are known for the sheer volume of water coursing across the rocky channel, and the thundering sound it produces. 12. Orinoco River Some 200 streams and 600 tributaries flow into the impressive Orinoco, the third largest river in the world, spanning 2,140 kilometers. It begins at an altitude of 1,047 meters at the Delgado Chalbaud mountain in the southeastern tip of the Amazon State, travels first north, then turns sharply east. Finally, it reaches the ocean by way of some 300 channels that make up a delta of about 30,000 square kilometers. During the rainy season, the river reaches a width of 22 kilometers at San Rafael de Barrancas and a depth of 100 meters. 1,670 kilometers of it are navigable, and about 341 of those can be used for sailing large ships. Some of Colombia’s largest rivers flow into the Orinoco River’s vast basin, which covers over one million square kilometers.