Cuyuni River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cuyuni River |
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| Country | Venezuela and Guyana |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Essequibo 0 ft (0 m) 6°24′28″N 58°37′18″W / 6.40778°N 58.62167°W |
| Length | 618 km (384 mi) |
| Discharge (location 2) |
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| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 85,635 km2 (33,064 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The Cuyuni River is a long river in South America. It starts in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela. From there, it flows north towards a town called El Dorado. Then, it turns east and winds its way through the thick tropical rain forests of the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region in Guyana. Finally, it flows southeast until it joins the Mazaruni River, which then flows into the Essequibo River.
For about 100 kilometers (62 miles), the Cuyuni River forms part of a border area. This area is called Guyana Essequibo. Venezuela and Guyana have had disagreements about who owns this land for a long time. Near the river, you can also find Makarapan Mountain, which is a range made of sandstone.
Contents
River History
Long ago, in the 1600s and 1700s, people started to settle along the Cuyuni River. In 1681, an island at the river's mouth was cleared. People planted cassava there to feed the Dutch soldiers. By 1694, a new farm was set up further up the river. In 1703, a trading post was built on the Pariacot Savannah, in the upper part of the Cuyuni area.
On January 2, 1895, an event known as the "Incident of the Cuyuni River" took place. This was a disagreement between people from Venezuela and British Guyana. It happened because of the ongoing border dispute between the two areas.
Early that morning, British police officers, led by Inspector Barnes, took over a Venezuelan military station. This station was empty at the time and located on the left bank of the river. The British officers raised their flag there.
Captain Andrés Avelino Domínguez, who worked for General Domingo Antonio Sifontes, was sent to get the station back. The British officers left, and Inspector Barnes and his men were taken to the police station. This event made the disagreement between Venezuela and British Guyana even more tense.
Life and Activities on the River
The Cuyuni River is a place where people look for alluvial gold. This means gold that has been washed down by the river. Many people come here to mine for gold, often using large machines called dredges. Sometimes, mining happens without official permission, which is called Illegal mining. This mining activity has also made the border issue between Guyana and Venezuela more complicated.
A very large gold mining operation called the Aurora gold mine is located on the Cuyuni River. There are also plans to build a hydroelectric power plant at a place called Kamaria on the river. This plant would use the river's water to create electricity.
Towns in Venezuela
El Dorado is a Venezuelan town located right on the Cuyuni River.
Towns and People in Guyana
Some of the Kali'na people, who are an Indigenous group, live in the Cuyuni River valley. Part of this valley is in Guyana.
Eteringbang is a settlement right on the border with an airstrip. Other places like Saint Martin and Ankoko Island have also been part of the border disagreements between Venezuela and Guyana. In 2015, soldiers from Guyana continued to watch the border from Eteringbang, Kaikan, and other spots along the river.
The town of Bartica is located very close to where the Cuyuni River meets the Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers.
See also
In Spanish: Río Cuyuní para niños
