Editing Orinoco

{{short description|River in Venezuela and Colombia}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Orinoco River
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = Río Orinoco
| name_etymology     = [[Warao language|Warao]] for "a place to paddle"
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Orinoco Bridge.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = Orinoquia Bridge near [[Ciudad Guayana]], Venezuela
| map                = Orinoco drainage basin map (plain)-es.svg
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = The Orinoco [[drainage basin]]
| pushpin_map        = Venezuela
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Mouth location in Venezuela
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 5
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Countries
| subdivision_name1 = {{hlist|[[Colombia]]|[[Venezuela]]}}
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[South America]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{cvt|2,140|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos">{{cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370581100|title=XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos|last1=Carlos Andrés|first1=Lasso Alcalá|last2=Mónica Andrea|first2=Morales Betancourt|isbn=978-958-5183-65-0|doi=10.21068/eh9789585183629|year=2022}}</ref><ref name="Orinoco River Basin, South America">{{cite web|url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/5o1b74cnbo_English_Version_Orinoco_River_Report_Card_3_High_Res.pdf|title=Orinoco River Basin, South America|year=2016}}</ref>  
| basin_size         ={{cvt|1,014,797|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos">{{cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370581100|title=XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos|last1=Carlos Andrés|first1=Lasso Alcalá|last2=Mónica Andrea|first2=Morales Betancourt|isbn=978-958-5183-65-0|doi=10.21068/eh9789585183629|year=2022}}</ref><ref name="Orinoco River Basin, South America">{{cite web|url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/5o1b74cnbo_English_Version_Orinoco_River_Report_Card_3_High_Res.pdf|title=Orinoco River Basin, South America|year=2016}}</ref>
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = {{cvt|100|m|abbr=on}} 

| source1            = Hydrological source (main stem)
| source1_location   = Cerro Delgado-Chalbaud, [[Parima Mountains]], [[Venezuela]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|2|19|05|N|63|21|42|W|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{cvt|1,047|m|abbr=on}}

| source2            = Geographical source ([[Orinoco]]–[[Guaviare River|Guaviare]]–[[Guayabero River|Guayabero]]–Papamene–Sorrento: 3,010 km)
| source2_location   = [[Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)|Cordillera Oriental]], [[Colombia]]  
| source2_coordinates= {{coord|3|31|36.5952|N|74|28|27.3684|W|}}
| source2_elevation  = {{cvt|3,080|m|abbr=on}}

| mouth              = [[Delta Amacuro]]
| mouth_location     = [[Atlantic Ocean]], [[Venezuela]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|8|37|N|62|15|W|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{GEOnet2|32FA87C3E20B3774E0440003BA962ED3|Orinoco River}}</ref>
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_location= [[Orinoco Delta]]
| discharge1_avg     = (Period: 1983–2020){{cvt|39,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos">{{cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370581100|title=XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos|last1=Carlos Andrés|first1=Lasso Alcalá|last2=Mónica Andrea|first2=Morales Betancourt|isbn=978-958-5183-65-0|doi=10.21068/eh9789585183629|year=2022}}</ref>
| discharge1_min     = {{cvt|8,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos">{{cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370581100|title=XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos|last1=Carlos Andrés|first1=Lasso Alcalá|last2=Mónica Andrea|first2=Morales Betancourt|isbn=978-958-5183-65-0|doi=10.21068/eh9789585183629|year=2022}}</ref>
| discharge1_max     = {{cvt|85,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos">{{cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370581100|title=XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos|last1=Carlos Andrés|first1=Lasso Alcalá|last2=Mónica Andrea|first2=Morales Betancourt|isbn=978-958-5183-65-0|doi=10.21068/eh9789585183629|year=2022}}</ref>

| discharge2_location= [[Ciudad Guayana]]
| discharge2_avg     = (Period: 1926–2011){{cvt|37,740|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="La geografía del agua">{{cite web|url=https://bibliofep.fundacionempresaspolar.org/media/1378189/agua_ti_cap03.pdf|title=La geografía del agua|last1=José Rafael|first1=Córdova|last2=Marcelo González|first2=Sanabria}}</ref>

|discharge3_location= [[Ciudad Bolívar]]
|discharge3_avg     = (Period: 1926–2011){{cvt|32,760|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="La geografía del agua">{{cite web|url=https://bibliofep.fundacionempresaspolar.org/media/1378189/agua_ti_cap03.pdf|title=La geografía del agua|last1=José Rafael|first1=Córdova|last2=Marcelo González|first2=Sanabria}}</ref>

|discharge5_location= [[Puerto Ayacucho]]
|discharge5_avg     = (Period: 1926–2011){{cvt|16,182|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="La geografía del agua">{{cite web|url=https://bibliofep.fundacionempresaspolar.org/media/1378189/agua_ti_cap03.pdf|title=La geografía del agua|last1=José Rafael|first1=Córdova|last2=Marcelo González|first2=Sanabria}}</ref>

|discharge4_location=[[Puerto Carreño]]
|discharge4_avg     = (Period: 1971–2000){{cvt|18,363.7|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Orinoco">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=67&catid=10&Itemid=179|title=Orinoco}}</ref>

| progression        = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| river_system       = [[Orinoco|Orinoco River]]
| tributaries_left   = [[Casiquiare River|Casiquiare]], [[Guaviare River|Guaviare]], [[Vichada River|Vichada]], [[Tomo River|Tomo]], [[Cinaruco River|Cinaruco]], [[Capanaparo River|Capanaparo]], [[Meta River|Meta]], [[Arauca River|Arauca]], [[Apure River|Apure]], [[Guárico River|Guárico]] 
| tributaries_right  = [[Mavaca River|Mavaca]], [[Sipapo River|Sipapo]], [[Ocamo River|Ocamo]], [[Ventuari River|Ventuari]], [[Suapure River|Suapure]], [[Parguaza River|Parguaza]], [[Caura River (Venezuela)|Caura]], [[Cuchivero River|Cuchivero]], [[Aro River|Aro]], [[Caroní River|Caroní]]

| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Orinoco''' ({{IPA|es|oɾiˈnoko}}) is one of the longest [[river]]s in [[South America]] at {{cvt|2,140|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Its [[drainage basin]], sometimes known as the '''Orinoquia''', covers approximately 1 million km<sup>2</sup>, with 65% of it in [[Venezuela]] and 35% in [[Colombia]]. It is the [[List of rivers by discharge|fourth largest river]] in the world by [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] volume of water (39,000 m<sup>3</sup>/s at [[Orinoco Delta|delta]]) due to the high precipitation throughout its catchment area (ca 2,300 mm/a). The Orinoco River and its tributaries are the major transportation system for eastern and interior Venezuela and the [[Llanos]] of Colombia. The environment and wildlife in the Orinoco's basin are extremely diverse.<ref name="XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos">{{cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370581100|title=XXI. PECES DEL FONDO DEL RÍO ORINOCO Y AFLUENTES PRINCIPALES (COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA): diversidad y aspectos bioecológicos|last1=Carlos Andrés|first1=Lasso Alcalá|last2=Mónica Andrea|first2=Morales Betancourt|isbn=978-958-5183-65-0|doi=10.21068/eh9789585183629|year=2022}}</ref><ref>Supplement of {{cite journal|url=https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/26/35/2022/hess-26-35-2022-supplement.pdf|year=2021|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104103919/https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/26/35/2022/hess-26-35-2022-supplement.pdf|url-status=live|doi=10.5194/hess-26-35-2022|title=How well are we able to close the water budget at the global scale? |last1=Lehmann |first1=Fanny |last2=Vishwakarma |first2=Bramha Dutt |last3=Bamber |first3=Jonathan |journal=Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |volume=26 |pages=35–54 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Orinoco River Basin, South America–WWF">{{cite web|url=https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/orinoco_river_basin|title=Orinoco River Basin, South America–WWF}}</ref><ref name="Publications-
EcoHealth Report Cards">{{cite web|url=https://ecoreportcard.org/report-cards/orinoco-river/publications/|title=Publications-EcoHealth Report Cards}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Orinoquia, Orinoquía |encyclopedia=Diccionario panhispánico de dudas |year=2005 |publisher=Royal Spanish Academy |location= |id= |url=https://www.rae.es/dpd/Orinoquia |access-date=2023-01-07}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The river's name is derived from the [[Warao language|Warao]] term for "a place to paddle", itself derived from the terms ''güiri'' (paddle) and ''noko'' (place) i.e. a navigable place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orinoco River |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Orinoco-River |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Orinoco |url=http://etimologias.dechile.net/?Orinoco |website=Diccionario Etimológico Español en Línea |access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
{{More citations needed|section|date=December 2022}}
[[File:Map of Lower Orinoco pub. 1897.jpg|thumb|left|Map of the Lower Orinoco, 1897]]
The mouth of the Orinoco River at the [[Atlantic Ocean]] was documented by [[Christopher Columbus]] on 1 August 1498, during his [[Christopher Columbus#Third voyage and arrest|third voyage]]. Its source at the Cerro Delgado–Chalbaud, in the [[Parima Mountains|Parima range]], was not explored until 453 years later, in 1951. The source, near the Venezuelan–[[Brazil]]ian border, at {{convert|1047|m|ft}} above sea level ({{coord|2|19|05|N|63|21|42|W|}}), was explored in 1951 by a joint French-Venezuelan expedition.

The Orinoco, as well as its tributaries in the eastern [[llanos]] such as the [[Apure River|Apure]] and [[Meta River|Meta]], were explored in the 16th century by German expeditions under [[Ambrosius Ehinger]] and his successors. In 1531, starting at the principal outlet in the delta, the Boca de Navios, [[Diego de Ordaz]] sailed up the river to the Meta. [[Antonio de Berrio]] sailed down the [[Casanare River|Casanare]] to the Meta, and then down the Orinoco River and back to [[Santa Ana de Coro|Coro]]. In 1595, after capturing de Berrio to obtain information while conducting an expedition to find the fabled city of [[El Dorado]], the Englishman [[Sir Walter Raleigh]] sailed down the river, reaching the [[Llanos|savanna country]].

From April to May 1800, the Prussian-born [[Alexander von Humboldt]] and his companion, [[Aimé Bonpland|Aime Bonpland]], explored stretches of the Orinoco, supported by indigenous helpers and guided by his interest to prove that South America's waterways formed an interconnected system from the Andes to the Amazon.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Daum | first=Andreas W.|author-link=Andreas Daum | year=2024 | title=Alexander von Humboldt: A Concise Biography | location=Trans. Robert Savage. Princeton, N.J. | publisher=Princeton University Press |pages=68‒70 | isbn=978-0-691-24736-6 }}</ref> He reported on the [[Boto|pink river dolphins]] and later published extensively on the river's flora and fauna.<ref>Helferich, Gerard (2004) ''Humboldt's Cosmos: Alexander von Humboldt and the Latin American Journey that Changed the Way We See the World,'' Gotham Books, New York; {{ISBN|1-59240-052-3}}.</ref>

The sources of the Orinoco River, located at Cerro [[Carlos Delgado Chalbaud]] (2º19’05” N,  63º21’42” W), were discovered in 1951 by the French-Venezuelan expedition that went back and explored the Upper Orinoco course to the [[Parima Mountains|Sierra Parima]] near the border with Brazil, headed by Venezuelan army officer Frank Risquez Iribarren.<ref>Alberto Contramaestre Torres. Expedición a las fuentes del Orinoco. Caracas, 1954.</ref><ref>Pablo J. Anduce. ''Shailili-Ko. Descubrimiento de las fuentes del Orinoco''. Caracas: Talleres Gráficos Ilustraciones S.A., 1960.</ref>

The first bridge across the Orinoco River, the [[Angostura Bridge]] at [[Ciudad Bolívar]], Venezuela, was completed in 1967.<ref>{{cite book|title=In the Wake of Tacoma: Suspension Bridges and the Quest for Aerodynamic Stability|author=Scott, R.|date=2001|publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers|isbn=9780784470732|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLOR_CjeiBMC|page=184|access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref>

In 1968, an expedition was set off by [[The Geographical Journal]] and [[Hovercraft]] from [[Manaus]] ([[Brazil]]) to Port of Spain (Trinidad). Aboard a [[SR.N6]] hovercraft, the expedition members followed the Negro river upstream to where it is joined by the  [[Casiquiare canal]], on the border between Colombia and Venezuela. After following the Casiquiare to the Orinoco River they hovered thru perilous rapids of the rivers Maipures and Atures. The Orinoco was then traversed down to its mouths in the Gulf of Paria and then to Port of Spain. The primary purpose of the expedition was filming for the [[BBC]] series ''[[The World About Us]]'' episode "The Last Great Journey on Earth from Amazon to Orinoco by Hovercraft", which aired in 1970, and demonstrated the abilities of a hovercraft, thereby promoting sales of this British invention.

The first powerline crossing of the Orinoco River was completed in 1981 for an 800{{nbsp}}kV{{nbsp}}TL single span of {{convert|1200|m|ft}} using two towers {{convert|110|m|ft}} tall.<ref name="SAE-Power">{{Cite web |title=Experience |publisher=SAE Power Lines |url=http://www.saepowerlines.com/eng/esperienze.htm |access-date=13 October 2015 |archive-date=2 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802012558/http://www.saepowerlines.com/eng/esperienze.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1992, an overhead power line crossing for two 400{{nbsp}}kV-circuits was completed just west of Morocure (between the cities of [[Ciudad Bolívar]] and [[Ciudad Guayana]]), north of the confluence of Routes{{nbsp}}1 and 19. It had three towers, and the two spans measured {{convert|2161|m|ft}} and {{convert|2537|m|ft}}, respectively.<ref name="SAE-Power" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Critical Path |date=June 2005 |magazine=[[PEI (magazine)|PEI]] |pages=105–111, page 107 |url=http://www.pbpower.net/inprint/articles/critical/critical.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923215840/http://www.pbpower.net/inprint/articles/critical/critical.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pylons of the Orinoco High-Voltage Crossing |work=International Database for Civil and Structural Engineering |url=http://structurae.net/structures/pylons-of-the-orinoco-high-voltage-crossing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200554/http://structurae.net/structures/pylons-of-the-orinoco-high-voltage-crossing |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Orinoco Powerline Crossing |publisher=Skyscraper Source Media Inc. |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=58412 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305034956/http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=58412 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, a second bridge, known as the [[Orinoquia Bridge]], was completed near [[Ciudad Guayana]], Venezuela.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

== Geography ==

The course of the Orinoco forms a wide ellipsoidal arc, surrounding the [[Guiana Shield]]; it is divided in four stretches of unequal length that very roughly correspond to the longitudinal zonation of a typical large river: 
* '''Upper Orinoco''' – {{convert|286|km|mi}} long, from its headwaters to the Raudales de Guaharibos rapids, flows through mountainous landscape in a northwesterly direction
* '''Middle Orinoco''' – {{convert|805|km|mi}} long, divided into two sectors, the first of which ca. {{convert|515|km|mi}} long has a general westward direction down to the confluence with the [[Atabapo River|Atabapo]] and [[Guaviare River|Guaviare]] rivers at [[San Fernando de Atabapo]]; the second flows northward, for about {{convert|290|km|mi}}, along the Venezuelan–Colombian border, flanked on both sides by the westernmost granitic upwellings of the Guiana Shield which impede the development of a flood plain, to the [[Raudales de Atures|Atures rapids]] near the confluence with the [[Meta River]] at [[Puerto Carreño]]
*'''Lower Orinoco''' – {{convert|959|km|mi}} long with a well-developed alluvial plain, flows in a northeast direction, from Atures rapids down to Piacoa in front of [[Barrancas del Orinoco|Barrancas]]
* '''Delta Amacuro''' – {{convert|200|km|mi}} long that empties into the [[Gulf of Paría]] and the Atlantic Ocean, a very large [[river delta|delta]], some {{convert|22500|km2|mi2|-2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|370|km|mi|-1}} at its widest.

[[File:Deltaorinoco.jpg|thumb|right|Orinoco in Mariusa National Park (Delta Amacuro)]]
[[File:Ciudad guyana.jpg|thumb|right|Orinoco at its confluence with the [[Caroní River]] (lower left)<ref>{{cite web
  | url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=6215
  | title=Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela : Image of the Day
  | publisher=earthobservatory.nasa.gov | access-date=2009-10-31
| date=2006-01-23
  }}</ref>]]
[[File:Orinoco-Landschaft.JPG|right|thumb|Rapids of the Orinoco, near Puerto Ayacucho airport, Venezuela]]
[[File:Orinoco 33. 2005.jpg|right|thumb|Orinoco in [[Amazonas (Venezuelan state)|Amazonas State]], Venezuela]]
[[File:Orinoco4.jpg|right|thumb|Orinoco in Amazonas State, Venezuela]]

At its mouth, the Orinoco River forms a wide delta that branches off into hundreds of rivers and waterways that flow through {{convert|41,000|km2|-3|abbr=on}} of swampy forests. In the rainy season, the Orinoco River can swell to a breadth of {{convert|22|km|0}} and a depth of {{convert|100|m|-1}}.

Most of the important Venezuelan rivers are tributaries of the Orinoco River, the largest being the [[Caroni River (Venezuela)|Caroní]], which joins it at [[Puerto Ordaz]], close to the [[Llovizna]] Falls. A peculiarity of the Orinoco river system is the [[Casiquiare canal]], which starts as an arm of the Orinoco, and finds its way to the [[Rio Negro (Amazon)|Rio Negro]], a tributary of the [[Amazon River|Amazon]], thus forming a 'natural canal' between Orinoco and Amazon.

The [[stream gradient]] of the entire river is 0.05% (1,047 m over 2,250&nbsp;km). Downstream of Raudales de Guaharibos the gradient is 0.01% (183<ref name="gv">{{Cite web |title=Raudal de Guaharibos rapids, Estado Amazonas, Venezuela |url=https://ve.geoview.info/raudal_de_guaharibos,3640388 |access-date=2021-07-21 |website=ve.geoview.info}}</ref>/1,964), which is also the gradient from Ciudad Bolivar to the ocean (54/435).

=== Major rivers in the Orinoco Basin ===
* [[Apure River|Apure]]: from Venezuela through the east into the Orinoco
* [[Arauca River|Arauca]]: from Colombia to Venezuela east into the Orinoco
* [[Atabapo River|Atabapo]]: from the [[Guiana Shield|Guiana Highlands]] of Venezuela north into the Orinoco
* [[Caroní River|Caroní]]: from the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela north into the Orinoco
* [[Casiquiare canal]]: in SE Venezuela, a [[distributary]] from the Orinoco flowing west to the Negro River, a major affluent to the Amazon
* [[Caura River (Venezuela)|Caura]]: from eastern Venezuela (Guiana Highlands) north into the Orinoco
* [[Guaviare River|Guaviare]]: from Colombia east into the Orinoco
* [[Inírida River|Inírida]]: from Colombia southeast into the Guaviare.
* [[Meta River|Meta]]: from Colombia, border with Venezuela east into the Orinoco
* [[Ventuari River|Ventuari]]: from eastern Venezuela (the Guiana Highlands) southwest into the Orinoco
* [[Vichada River|Vichada]]: from Colombia east into the Orinoco
{{see also|Casiquiare canal-Orinoco River hydrographic divide}}

==Discharge==

Average, minimum and maximum discharge at [[Ciudad Bolívar]] and [[Ciudad Guayana]] (Lower Orinoco):
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 ! rowspan="3" | Year
 ! colspan="6" |Discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s)
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Ciudad Bolívar]]
! colspan="3" | [[Ciudad Guayana]]
|-
! Min
! ''Mean''
! Max
! Min
! ''Mean''
! Max
|-
|2000
|4,799
|''33,415''
|67,667
| colspan="2" rowspan="8" |
|71,080
|-
|2001
|3,438
|''25,695''
|59,527
|60,493
|-
|2002
|3,868
|''34,002''
|74,367
|66,561
|-
|2003
|3,287
|''34,728''
|74,367
|77,802
|-
|2004
|4,071
|''35,717''
|74,208
|66,367
|-
|2005
|5,439
|''31,980''
|64,800
|57,471
|-
|2006
|6,521
|''35,901''
|77,422
|71,446
|-
|2007
|3,949
|''34,477''
|71,527
|65,611
|-
|2008
|4,754
|''32,378''
|70,536
| colspan="3" |
|-
|2009
|7,419
|''26,041''
|59,671
| colspan="2" |
|67,992
|-
|2010
|3,067
|''35,286''
|75,807
| rowspan="7" |
|''40,101''
|86,581
|-
|2011
|6,368
|''37,957''
|74,367
|''40,189''
|92,258
|-
|2012
|7,805
|''38,685''
|77,909
|''44,049''
|74,566
|-
|2013
|5,581
|''32,041''
|65,850
|''36,484''
|62,151
|-
|2014
|4,364
|''31,632''
|71,214
|''36,018''
|66,050
|-
|2015
|5,725
|''29,476''
|71,136
|''33,742''
|65,903
|-
|2016
|3,514
|''35,474''
|78,398
|''39,841''
|83,098
|-
|2017
|7,520
|''34,302''
|77,315
|8,936
|''39,057''
|85,997
|-
|2018
|4,693
|''36,467''
|82,611
|6,637
|''40,870''
|87,303
|-
|2019
|4,846
|''32,017''
|72,203
|
|''34,620''
|70,248
|-
|2020
|4,570
|''28,915''
|63,638
|6,018
|''31,551''
|54,640
|-
|2021
|7,279
|''39,378''
|74,873
|9,199
|''42,786''
|79,487
|-
|2022
|6,463
|''39,094''
|75,912
|9,679
|''42,663''
|85,238
|-
|2023
|8,377
|''32,523''
|68,742
|8,774
|''36,380''
|81,831
|}
<ref name="Actualidad Hidrometeorológica">{{cite web|url=https://hidromet-ucv.org.ve/category/actualidad-meteorolog/|title=Actualidad Hidrometeorológica}}</ref><ref name="The Flood Observatory">{{cite web|url=https://floodobservatory.colorado.edu/SiteDisplays/141.htm|title=The Flood Observatory}}</ref>

Monthly average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) at [[Ciudad Bolívar]] (2018 to 2023):
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 |-
!Month
! 2018
! 2019
! 2020
! 2021
! 2022
! 2023
! ''1926–2023''
|-
|JAN
|11,009
|8,955
|13,667
|19,108
|11,067
|14,528
|''11,637''
|-
|FEB
|7,593
|6,414
|7,142
|9,554
|6,463
|9,412
|''6,840''
|-
|MAR
|4,693
|4,846
|4,570
|7,279
|10,187
|8,377
|''5,521''
|-
|APR
|6,862
|5,634
|5,080
|16,378
|13,860
|10,036
|''7,347''
|-
|MAY
|27,262
|17,343
|11,688
|33,363
|28,156
|19,290
|''20,295''
|-
|JUN
|46,541
|36,447
|29,204
|63,086
|50,344
|41,963
|''39,205''
|-
|JUL
|73,295
|57,240
|42,542
|68,208
|68,499
|59,398
|''57,550''
|-
|AUG
|82,611
|72,203
|57,742
|74,873
|75,912
|68,742
|''69,207''
|-
|SEP
|70,591
|69,859
|63,638
|68,441
|73,589
|67,129
|''66,502''
|-
|OCT
|50,838
|48,298
|50,060
|53,294
|54,020
|52,622
|''51,206''
|-
|NOV
|34,852
|34,644
|36,926
|36,518
|45,509
|23,332
|''35,752''
|-
|DEC
|21,457
|22,317
|24,718
|22,437
|31,527
|15,450
|''22,974''
|-
| colspan="8" |
|-
|''Mean''
|''36,467''
|''32,017''
|''28,915''
|''39,378''
|''39,094''
|''32,523''
|'''''32,836'''''
|}
<ref name="Actualidad Hidrometeorológica">{{cite web|url=https://hidromet-ucv.org.ve/category/actualidad-meteorolog/|title=Actualidad Hidrometeorológica}}</ref>

Monthly average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) at [[Ciudad Guayana]] (1996 to 1998):
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 |-
!Month
! 1996
! 1997
! 1998
! '''''1943–1998'''''
|-
|JAN
|17,627
|24,386
|10,919
|''16,661''
|-
|FEB
|14,486
|17,144
|7,583
|''10,108''
|-
|MAR
|15,334
|15,767
|8,906
|''7,702''
|-
|APR
|12,514
|12,615
|12,411
|''10,609''
|-
|MAY
|23,670
|25,152
|32,751
|''26,317''
|-
|JUN
|45,781
|43,142
|49,062
|''45,179''
|-
|JUL
|61,177
|55,597
|63,659
|''58,412''
|-
|AUG
|67,639
|61,275
|67,756
|''64,975''
|-
|SEP
|65,933
|53,825
|66,416
|''63,244''
|-
|OCT
|57,912
|38,742
|54,189
|''53,201''
|-
|NOV
|45,267
|28,372
|38,345
|''40,805''
|-
|DEC
|36,094
|21,116
|30,130
|''29,229''
|-
| colspan="5" |
|-
|''Mean''
|''38,620''
|''33,094''
|''36,844''
|'''''35,537'''''
|}
<ref name="NATURAL CONDITIONS OF THE ORINOCO RIVER DELTA">{{cite book|url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11603503_11.PDF|title=NATURAL CONDITIONS OF THE ORINOCO RIVER DELTA}}</ref>

Average discharge at [[Ciudad Bolívar]] (complete time series from 1926 to 2023):
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!Year
!m<sup>3</sup>/s
!Year
!m<sup>3</sup>/s
!Year
!m<sup>3</sup>/s
|-
|1926
|23,376
|1959
|30,333
|1992
|28,571
|-
|1927
|37,476
|1960
|31,818
|1993
|35,204
|-
|1928
|32,838
|1961
|27,830
|1994
|35,110
|-
|1929
|32,653
|1962
|32,930
|1995
|29,360
|-
|1930
|30,610
|1963
|32,560
|1996
|35,992
|-
|1931
|33,766
|1964
|27,736
|1997
|28,757
|-
|1932
|33,302
|1965
|27,643
|1998
|35,000
|-
|1933
|32,792
|1966
|29,220
|1999
|34,925
|-
|1934
|34,137
|1967
|34,323
|2000
|33,415
|-
|1935
|31,168
|1968
|32,280
|2001
|25,695
|-
|1936
|31,260
|1969
|32,606
|2002
|34,002
|-
|1937
|29,962
|1970
|34,600
|2003
|34,728
|-
|1938
|37,383
|1971
|33,673
|2004
|35,717
|-
|1939
|28,292
|1972
|36,177
|2005
|31,980
|-
|1940
|25,232
|1973
|27,597
|2006
|35,901
|-
|1941
|28,200
|1974
|26,344
|2007
|34,477
|-
|1942
|31,540
|1975
|29,313
|2008
|32,378
|-
|1943
|38,403
|1976
|37,290
|2009
|26,041
|-
|1944
|34,878
|1977
|30,705
|2010
|35,286
|-
|1945
|33,395
|1978
|32,514
|2011
|37,957
|-
|1946
|36,363
|1979
|32,885
|2012
|38,685
|-
|1947
|30,426
|1980
|35,018
|2013
|32,041
|-
|1948
|31,818
|1981
|38,080
|2014
|31,632
|-
|1949
|32,745
|1982
|36,224
|2015
|29,476
|-
|1950
|32,096
|1983
|36,130
|2016
|35,474
|-
|1951
|38,220
|1984
|31,493
|2017
|34,302
|-
|1952
|33,858
|1985
|30,380
|2018
|36,467
|-
|1953
|36,177
|1986
|35,040
|2019
|32,017
|-
|1954
|38,310
|1987
|34,090
|2020
|28,915
|-
|1955
|31,076
|1988
|30,472
|2021
|39,378
|-
|1956
|36,734
|1989
|29,638
|2022
|39,094
|-
|1957
|29,128
|1990
|33,442
|2023
|32,523
|-
|1958
|28,108
|1991
|31,770
|2024
|
|}
<ref name="THE EXTRAORDINARY FLOOD OF THE ORINOCO RIVER IN 2018">{{cite web |last1=José L. |first1=López |last2=José R. |first2=Córdova |last3=Bartolo |first3=Castellanos |last4=Santiago |first4=Yépez |last5=Alain |first5=Laraque |title=THE EXTRAORDINARY FLOOD OF THE ORINOCO RIVER IN 2018 |url=https://hybam.obs-mip.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/6_Lopez.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Actualidad Hidrometeorológica2">{{cite web |title=Actualidad Hidrometeorológica |url=https://hidromet-ucv.org.ve/category/actualidad-meteorolog/}}</ref><ref name="The Flood Observatory2">{{cite web |title=The Flood Observatory |url=https://floodobservatory.colorado.edu/SiteDisplays/141.htm}}</ref>

== Ecology ==
The [[boto]] and the [[giant otter]] inhabit the Orinoco River system.<ref name=WWF>WWF: ''[http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/orinoco_river_basin/ Orinoco River Basin, South America.]'' Retrieved 24 May 2014</ref> The [[Orinoco crocodile]] is one of the rarest reptiles in the world.  Its range in the wild is restricted to the middle and lower Orinoco River Basin.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Thorbjarnarson |first1=John B. |last2=Hernández |first2=Gustavo  |year=1993 |title=Reproductive ecology of the Orinoco crocodile (''Crocodylus intermedius'') in Venezuela. I. Nesting ecology and egg and clutch relationships |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=363–370 |doi=10.2307/1564821 |jstor=1564821}}</ref>

More than 1000 fish species have been recorded in the river basin and about 15% are [[Endemism|endemic]].<ref name=Reis2016>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1111/jfb.13016|pmid = 27312713|title = Fish biodiversity and conservation in South America|journal = Journal of Fish Biology|volume = 89|issue = 1|pages = 12–47|year = 2016|last1 = Reis|first1 = R. E.|last2 = Albert|first2 = J. S.|last3 = Di Dario|first3 = F.|last4 = Mincarone|first4 = M. M.|last5 = Petry|first5 = P.|last6 = Rocha|first6 = L. A.|url = https://zenodo.org/record/896303|doi-access = free| bibcode=2016JFBio..89...12R }}</ref> Among the fish in the river are species found in [[brackish]] or salt water in the Orinoco [[estuary]], but also many restricted to fresh water. By far the largest orders are [[Characiformes]] and [[Siluriformes]], which together account for more than 80% of the fresh water species.<ref name=FEW>Hales, J., and P. Petry: ''[http://www.feow.org/ecoregions/details/307 Orinoco Llanos]''. Orinoco Delta & Coastal Drainages. Retrieved 24 May 2014.</ref> Some of the more famous are the [[Pygocentrus cariba|black spot piranha]] and the [[cardinal tetra]]. The latter species, which is important in the aquarium industry, is also found in the [[Rio Negro (Amazon)|Rio Negro]], revealing the connection between this river and the Orinoco through the [[Casiquiare canal]].<ref>{{cite web|website=Seriously Fish|url=http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi/|title=Paracheirodon axelrodi, Cardinal Tetra.|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> Because the Casiquiare includes both [[Blackwater river|blackwater]] and [[Clearwater river (river type)|clear-]] to [[Whitewater river (river type)|whitewater]] sections, only relatively adaptable species are able to pass through it between the two river systems.<ref name=Staeck2015>{{cite journal|last1=Staeck|first1=W.|last2=Schindler|first2=I.|title=Description of a new Heros species (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Rio Orinoco drainage and notes on Heros severus Heckel, 1840|year=2015|journal=Bulletin of Fish Biology|volume=15|issue=1–2|pages=121–136|url=http://www.ichthyologie.de/images/stories/gfi/publikationen/Bulletin_of_Fish_Biology/Volume_15/BoFB_Vol15_121_136_Staeck_and_Schindler.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.ichthyologie.de/images/stories/gfi/publikationen/Bulletin_of_Fish_Biology/Volume_15/BoFB_Vol15_121_136_Staeck_and_Schindler.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Economic activity ==
The river is navigable for most of its length, and [[dredging]] enables ocean ships to go as far as [[Ciudad Bolívar]], at the confluence of the [[Caroní River]], {{convert|435|km|mi}} upstream. River steamers carry cargo as far as [[Puerto Ayacucho]] and the Atures Rapids.

=== El Florero iron mine ===
In 1926, a Venezuelan mining inspector found one of the richest [[iron ore]] deposits near the Orinoco delta, south of the city of San Felix on a mountain named ''El Florero''.  Full-scale mining of the ore deposits began after [[World War II]], by a conglomerate of Venezuelan firms and US steel companies.  At the start in the early 1950s, about 10,000 tons of ore-bearing soil was mined per day.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GtkDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+mechanics+July+1932+airplane&pg=PA142 "Venezuela's Magnetic Mountain"] ''Popular Mechanics'', July 1949</ref>

=== Tar sands ===
The Orinoco River deposits also contain extensive [[tar sands]] in the [[Orinoco Belt|Orinoco oil belt]], which may be a source of future oil production.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Forero |first=Juan |date=1 June 2006 |title=For Venezuela, A Treasure In Oil Sludge |newspaper=The New York Times |volume=155 |issue=53597 |pages=C1–C6 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/business/worldbusiness/01oil.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220134004/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/business/worldbusiness/01oil.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>

== Eastern Venezuelan basin ==
[[File:Vista RioCaroni DesdeOrinoco.jpg|thumbnail|Union of the Orinoco with the [[Caroní River]]]]
Encompassing the states of [[Anzoategui]]-[[Guarico]] and [[Monagas]] states, the Interior Range forms the northern boundary and the [[Guayana Shield]] the southern boundary.<ref name=Prieto>Prieto, R., Valdes, G., 1992, El Furrial Oil Field, In Giant Oil and Gas Fields of the Decade, 1978–1988, AAPG Memoir 54, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, {{ISBN|0891813330}}</ref>{{rp|155}}  Maturin forms the eastern subbasin and Guarico forms the western subbasin.<ref name=Prieto/>{{rp|156}}  The El Furrial oil field was discovered in 1978, producing from late [[Oligocene]] shallow marine [[sandstone]]s in an [[overthrust]]ed [[foreland basin]].<ref name=Prieto/>{{rp|155}}

== Recreation and sports ==

Since 1973, the Civil Association Nuestros Rios son Navegables organize the Internacional Rally ''Nuestros Rios son Navegables'', a motonautical round trip of over 1,200 kilometers through the Orinoco, Meta and Apure Rivers. Starting out from Ciudad Bolívar or San Fernando de Apure, is the longest fluvial rally in the world with the participation of worldwide competitors, more than 30 support boats, logistics teams, thousands of tourists and fans travel. The boats had an average speed of 120 miles per hour.

Since 1988, the local government of [[Ciudad Guayana]] has conducted a swim race in the rivers Orinoco and [[Caroni River (Venezuela)|Caroní]], with up to 1,000 competitors. Since 1991, the ''Paso a Nado Internacional de los Rios Orinoco–Caroní'' has been celebrated every year, on a Sunday close to 19 April. Worldwide, this swim-meet has grown in importance, and it has a large number of competitors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Antecedentes y Sumario Paso a Nado Internacional de Los Rios Orinoco/Caroni" ''Paso Nado Internacional de Los Rios Orinoco y Caroní'' |language=es |trans-title=Antecedents and Summary of the ''International Swim Meet of the Orinoco and Caroni Rivers'' |url=http://www.almacaronidireccion.com/imdecaroni/static.php?page=static070130-092723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217065719/http://www.almacaronidireccion.com/imdecaroni/static.php?page=static070130-092723 |archive-date=17 December 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}</ref>  The 26th meet was held in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=26 edición Paso a Nado de Ríos Orinoco y Caroní 2016 |publisher=Roberto Muñoz Natación Venezuela |url=http://1968.com.ve/26-edicion-paso-a-nado-de-rios-orinoco-y-caroni-2016/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109162140/http://1968.com.ve/26-edicion-paso-a-nado-de-rios-orinoco-y-caroni-2016/ |archive-date=9 November 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

== In culture ==
The Irish singer and songwriter Enya wrote and sang the song "[[Orinoco Flow]]", which she released in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Rick |date=2020-11-18 |title=Behind the Song: "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" by Enya |url=https://americansongwriter.com/sail-away-by-enya-behind-the-song/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}</ref>
Jules Verne's novel Superbe Orénoque has the river as its central theme.

== See also ==
* [[Adaheli]], the Sun in the [[mythology]] of the Orinoco region
* ''[[Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild]]'' (2020) book
* "[[Orinoco Flow]]" – the song uses the Orinoco and its environs as a theme for its lyrics

{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
* Stark, James H. 1897. ''Stark's Guide-Book and History of Trinidad including Tobago, Granada, and St. Vincent; also a trip up the Orinoco and a description of the great Venezuelan Pitch Lake''. Boston, James H. Stark, publisher; London, Sampson Low, Marston & Company. (This book has an excellent description of a trip up the Orinoco as far as [[Ciudad Bolívar]] and a detailed description of the Venezuelan [[Pitch Lake]] situated on the western side of the Gulf of Paria opposite.)
* MacKee, E.D., Nordin, C.F. and D. Perez-Hernandez (1998). "The Waters and Sediments of the Rio Orinoco and its major Tributaries, Venezuela and Colombia." United States Geological Survey water-supply paper, {{ISSN|0886-9308}} /A-B. Washington: United States Government Printing Office.
* Rawlins, C.B. (1999). ''The Orinoco River''. New York: Franklin Watts.
* Triana, S. Pérez. [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50506/50506-h/50506-h.htm Down the Orinoco in a Canoe]
* Weibezahn, F.H., Haymara, A. and M.W. Lewis (1990). ''The Orinoco River as an ecosystem''. Caracas: Universidad Simon Bolivar.

== External links ==
{{commons category|Orinoco River}}
*{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Orinoco |volume=20 |pages=275–276 |first=George Earl |last=Church |short=1}}
*{{Gutenberg|no=50506|name=Down the Orinoco in a Canoe}} (Transcription of book from 1902)
*[https://scioteca.caf.com/bitstream/handle/123456789/495/el_camino_de_los_r_os_w_2013.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y  "Rios de Integracion ". Geurgescu, Paul. CAF. 2017]

{{Orinoco Tributaries}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Border rivers]]
[[Category:Colombia–Venezuela border]]
[[Category:Dredged rivers and waterways]]
[[Category:International rivers of South America]]
[[Category:Orinoco basin]]
[[Category:Rivers of Colombia]]
[[Category:Rivers of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Rivers of Amazonas (Venezuelan state)]]