Mariusa National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mariusa National ParkParque nacional Mariusa |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Mariusa National Park
Parque nacional Mariusa Location in Venezuela
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| Location |  Venezuela |
| Area | 3,310 km2 (1,280 sq mi) |
| Established | June 5, 1991 |
The Mariusa National Park (which is also called Parque nacional Mariusa in Spanish) is a special protected area in Venezuela. It has the important status of a national park.
This park helps protect a part of the amazing Orinoco Delta swamp forests. It is located right in the middle of the Orinoco River Delta. This is where the biggest river in Venezuela meets the huge Atlantic Ocean. The park gets its name from Mariusa Island, which is on the coast. However, Redonda Island is actually the largest piece of land that often gets flooded. It sits between two smaller river channels called Macareo and Mariusa.
About Mariusa National Park
The most exciting things about this area are its thick jungle and the unique animals that live nowhere else on Earth. Also, the ocean tides reach far into the delta's many river channels. This part of Venezuela is truly special. The mighty Orinoco River splits into two main branches, the Rio Grande and Brazo Manamo. These branches then spread out into the enormous Orinoco River Delta. The Orinoco is considered the eighth largest river in the world!
Location and Formation
This land is mostly home to the Waraos people. It is in the easternmost part of Venezuela. The delta was formed over many, many centuries by the river carrying huge amounts of dirt and sand. This process created one of the world's largest deltas. The Orinoco River itself flows for about 2,150 kilometers (about 1,336 miles). It is fed by more than 200 large rivers. The delta area covers nearly 40,000 square kilometers (about 15,444 square miles). It is completely crisscrossed by countless smaller river channels, which are called caños.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Mariusa para niños
- List of national parks of Venezuela
- Sierra Nevada National Park (Venezuela)
