Barrancas del Orinoco facts for kids

Barrancas del Orinoco is a town in Venezuela. It is the main town of the Sotillo area in the Monagas state. This place is very old and has a rich history!

A Look Back: Barrancas' History

At the spot where Barrancas is today, people have found really old items. These items belonged to ancient groups called the Barrancoid and Saladoid cultures. Some of these findings are from as far back as 1000 years before the Christian era.

This means Barrancas has been lived in continuously for a very long time. It has been a home for people since at least the 11th century AD. This makes it the oldest town in Venezuela. It is also one of the oldest towns on the entire American continent.

Explorers and Early Settlements

In August 1531, a Spanish explorer named Diego de Ordaz arrived here. He was looking for a legendary golden city called El Dorado. He traveled up the Orinoco River to reach the village.

Ordaz was amazed by how many people lived there. He thought there were more than 400 homes. He decided to meet the local leader, Cacique "Naricagua." The village was linked to a river called "Uyapari." A writer named Juan de Castellanos described it as a "powerful town."

Growth and Development

Later, in the late 1600s, Capuchin friars from Spain started to arrive. In 1790, Fray Joaquín de Morata started a mission called San Rafael Arcángel de Barrancas. He got help from the native Warao people. They even built a church together.

During the war for independence, the religious people had to leave. But the native people kept living in the village. In the 1900s, Barrancas grew a lot. This was when people started exploring for oil in the Orinoco delta.

By the middle of the 20th century, Barrancas became a big center for raising cattle.

Modern Importance

Later, a group called the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana planted many Caribbean pine trees. These trees were planted between Barrancas and a nearby town called Uverito. This project helped the area grow even more.

By the 1970s, Barrancas was the most important town and port in the Monagas state. This was partly because it was hard to get to other big cities by road. Today, it is still an important place for moving goods and people. Many people travel from here to cities like Tucupita and Puerto Ordaz.

A lot of the local money has come from trading with nearby countries. These include Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Local Flavors: Barrancas' Food

When you visit Barrancas, you might enjoy trying the local food. A popular dish is the arepa. This is a type of bread made from corn. People often eat it with fresh fish caught from the river.

See also

In Spanish: Barrancas del Orinoco para niños