Essequibo (river)
| Essequibo | ||
 Catchment area of the Essequibo |
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| Data | ||
| location | Guyana | |
| River system | Essequibo | |
| source | in the Acarai Mountains | |
| muzzle | in the Atlantic Ocean Coordinates: 7 ° 2 ′ 0 ″ N , 58 ° 27 ′ 0 ″ W 7 ° 2 ′ 0 ″ N , 58 ° 27 ′ 0 ″ W
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| length | 1000 km | |
| Left tributaries | Río Rupununi , Río Potaro , Río Mazaruni | |
The Essequibo is 1000 km length of the largest rivers of the Republic of Guyana ( South America ) and namesake of the former colony of Essequibo , which was from 1616 to 1814.
The river has its source in the Acarai Mountains on the border with Brazil and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Bartica in an approximately 60 km wide delta . At Bartica, Mazaruni and Essequibo unite , which from here becomes a mighty, 5 km wide river that can be navigated by seagoing vessels. On the other hand, due to numerous waterfalls and rapids, it is only partially navigable in its upper reaches . Its tributary Río Potaro forms the 247 m high Kaieteur waterfall.
expedition
In 1908 the German-American ichthyologist Carl H. Eigenmann undertook an expedition along the Essequibo and its tributary Potaro and documented 336 species of fish occurring here.
Gold mining
In recent years, the Essequibo has been exposed to considerable environmental pollution from gold mining along its river and its tributaries. Many gold miners, especially the illegal garimpeiros , use the amalgam process to bind the gold with mercury when panning for gold .
Movie
- Marion Pöllmann (director): To the sources of Essequibo. 5-part documentary film, 2013. Approx. 200 min. (Comprehensive expedition report)
Web links
- "Dutch Control of Essequibo" (English)
- Measurement results of Plantain Iceland (English)