Wonotobo Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wonotobo Falls |
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 Location in Suriname
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| Location | Courantyne River, Suriname |
| Coordinates | 4°22′N 57°57′W / 4.37°N 57.95°W |
The Wonotobo Falls (in Dutch: Wonotobovallen) are a group of waterfalls in the Courantyne River. This river is located in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname, close to the border with Guyana. These waterfalls are not easy to travel through by boat. Near the falls, there is also an ancient site with special rock carvings called petroglyphs.
Exploring Wonotobo Falls
The Wonotobo Falls are about 250 kilometers (about 155 miles) from where the Courantyne River meets the ocean. This amazing waterfall system includes several smaller falls. Some of them are called the Dutchman Fall, the Blue Crane Fall, the Frenchman Fall, and the Englishman Fall.
If people want to get past these falls, they have to carry their canoes about five kilometers (about three miles) over land. This is a big effort! At the bottom of the falls, there is a village called Wanapan. This village is home to Amerindian people.
In 1836, a person named Robert Hermann Schomburgk was the first explorer to go beyond these waterfalls. The name "Wonotobo" comes from the Kalina language. Schomburgk said the full name was "Mawari Wonotopo." This means "the spot where the blue crane sleeps."
Ancient Rock Carvings: Petroglyphs
About 200 meters (about 650 feet) from the waterfalls, there is an old village site that was left empty a long time ago. In July 1959, a researcher named Dirk Geijskes found some amazing things there. He discovered petroglyphs, which are carvings made on rocks, and also some old pottery.
In total, 33 different petroglyphs have been found at this site. Scientists studied some charcoal found there. They used a method called carbon dating. This showed that the site is about 1900 years old. This made it the oldest known ancient site in the area called the Guianas at that time.
Most of these rock carvings are found in the Courantyne River area. They give us important clues about the ceremonies, myths, and beliefs of the native people who lived there long ago, before Europeans arrived. Later, even older petroglyphs were found at a place called Werehpai.
This area is also known for being a home to a type of catfish called Pseudoplatystoma. These fish are found in several South American rivers.
