List of rivers in Venezuela facts for kids

Venezuela is a country in South America with many important rivers. These rivers are like natural highways, helping people travel and transport goods. They also provide water for drinking, farming, and electricity. Many animals and plants also call these rivers home!

Rivers in Venezuela flow into different large bodies of water. We call the area of land where all the water drains into one main river or ocean a drainage basin. Think of it like a giant funnel where all the rain and smaller streams eventually flow into one big exit. Venezuela's rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Lake Maracaibo, and also into Lake Valencia.

Rivers and Their Basins

Rivers are grouped by where their water eventually ends up. This helps us understand how water moves across the land.

Atlantic Ocean Basins

Many of Venezuela's rivers flow into the vast Atlantic Ocean. This includes rivers that are part of the huge Amazon River system, the Essequibo River system, and the mighty Orinoco River system.

Amazon Basin Rivers

Some rivers in southern Venezuela are part of the massive Amazon River basin. The Amazon River itself is in Brazil, but its tributaries (smaller rivers that flow into it) reach into Venezuela.

• The Rio Negro is a major river that eventually joins the Amazon.
  • The Casiquiare canal is a very special natural waterway. It connects the Orinoco River system to the Rio Negro system, meaning water can flow between two huge river basins!
    • The Baria River, Siapa River, and Pasimoni River are smaller rivers that flow into the Casiquiare.
• The Guainía River is another important river in this basin.

Essequibo Basin Rivers

A few rivers in eastern Venezuela are part of the Essequibo River basin. The Essequibo River mainly flows through Guyana.

• The Cuyuni River is a significant river in this basin.
  • The Wenamu River, Corumpo River, Yuruarí River, and Supamo River flow into the Cuyuni.
• The Kamarang River is another river in this area.

Orinoco River Basin

The Orinoco River is one of the longest and most important rivers in South America. It flows mostly through Venezuela and is like the country's main artery. Many other rivers join the Orinoco, and some even branch off from it.

• The Rio Grande is a distributary of the Orinoco. This means it's a branch of the main river that flows away from it, usually towards the ocean. The Rio Grande empties into a large mouth called the Boca Grande.
  • The Barima River, Amacuro River, Cuyubini River, and Aguirre River are part of this delta system.
• Other distributaries of the Orinoco include Caño Araguao, Caño Mariusa, Caño Macareo, and Caño Tucupita.
• The Caño Mánamo is another distributary that flows into the Gulf of Paria.
  • The Tigre River and Urecoa River flow into the Caño Mánamo.
• The Caroní River is a huge tributary of the Orinoco, known for its powerful waterfalls.
  • The Paragua River, Carrao River, Icabarú River, Acaruay River, Aponguao River, and Cuquenán River all flow into the Caroní.
• Other important rivers that join the Orinoco include:
  • Caris River
  • Aro River
  • Pao River
  • Caura River
  • Apure River - a very long river with many tributaries of its own.
    • The Guárico River, Portuguesa River, Caucagua River, Masparro River, Santo Domingo River, Pagüey River, Canagua River, Caparo River, Sarare River, and Uribante River all flow into the Apure.
  • Arauca River
  • Meta River
  • Ventuari River
  • Casiquiare canal - yes, it's listed here again because it connects to the Orinoco too!

Gulf of Paria Basin

The Gulf of Paria is a large inlet of the Atlantic Ocean between Venezuela and Trinidad.

• The Guanipa River flows into this gulf.
  • The Amana River joins the Guanipa.
• The San Juan River also empties into the Gulf of Paria.
  • The Guarapiche River flows into the San Juan.

Caribbean Sea Basin

Many rivers in northern Venezuela flow directly into the Caribbean Sea.

• The Manzanares River
• The Neverí River
• The Unare River
• The Tuy River
• The Aroa River
• The Yaracuy River
• The Tocuyo River
• The Limón River

Lake Maracaibo Basin

Lake Maracaibo is a large, brackish (slightly salty) lake in northwestern Venezuela. Many rivers flow into this lake.

• The Motatán River
• The Chama River
• The Escalante River
• The Catatumbo River is famous for the "Catatumbo lightning," a unique weather phenomenon.
  • The Zulia River and Tarra River flow into the Catatumbo.
• The Palmar River

Lake Valencia Basin

Lake Valencia is a large freshwater lake in central Venezuela. It's an endorheic lake, meaning rivers flow into it, but no rivers flow out to the ocean.

• The Tapatapa River (also called El Limon)
• The Güey River
• The Turmero River
• The Aragua River
• The Cabriales River
• The Los Guayos River
• The Guacara River

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Ríos de Venezuela para niños

• List of rivers of the Americas by coastline