Amaila Falls facts for kids

Amaila Falls is a beautiful waterfall found in west-central Guyana. It is located on the Kuribrong River, which is a branch of the Potaro River. This area is part of the Potaro-Siparuni Region.

Discovering Amaila Falls

Amaila Falls is a stunning natural wonder. The river drops about 200 feet (60 meters) straight down. After this main drop, the water continues to flow through many smaller rapids and falls for nearly two miles. The total height the water drops is around 1,200 feet (365 meters).

How the Falls Were Formed

The waterfall is about 45 meters wide. It was created in rocks like sandstone and conglomerate. These rocks are part of the Roraima Formation. As the river flows over the falls, it changes direction from east to north. The amount of water flowing over the falls is about 64 cubic meters per second.

The Surrounding Landscape

The land around Amaila Falls is quite dramatic. At lower levels, the valley walls are flatter. But as you go higher, these walls become very steep. Near the top of the falls, the valley walls are almost straight up and down.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

There are plans to build a power plant at Amaila Falls. This plant would use a dam to create electricity. The goal is to provide power for Guyana's national electricity system. It would also help large mining companies.

Powering Guyana's Future

This project could produce 165 megawatts of electricity. This is enough power for most people and businesses in Guyana today. The project also aims to support future industrial growth in the country. Norway helped with the planning for this project.

Project Discussions

The Amaila Falls project has been a topic of discussion. Some political groups, like the APNU+AFC, had different views on the project. They debated how the project should move forward.

See also

In Spanish: Cascadas de Amaila para niños