World’s Largest Rodent | National Geographic

from its origins in the mountains of

from its origins in the mountains of Venezuela and Brazil to its delta on the

Venezuela and Brazil to its delta on the

Venezuela and Brazil to its delta on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean the Orinoco

coast of the Atlantic Ocean the Orinoco

coast of the Atlantic Ocean the Orinoco River flows for nearly 1300 miles along

River flows for nearly 1300 miles along

River flows for nearly 1300 miles along the way it passes ancient rock

the way it passes ancient rock

the way it passes ancient rock formations glorious waterfalls dense

formations glorious waterfalls dense

formations glorious waterfalls dense tropical rainforests and vast grassy

tropical rainforests and vast grassy

tropical rainforests and vast grassy plains the orinoco delta the area where

plains the orinoco delta the area where

plains the orinoco delta the area where the river’s water empties into the ocean

the river’s water empties into the ocean

the river’s water empties into the ocean is a swampy maze of canals and streams

is a swampy maze of canals and streams

is a swampy maze of canals and streams many smaller rivers or tributaries

many smaller rivers or tributaries

many smaller rivers or tributaries connect to the Orinoco one of these

connect to the Orinoco one of these

connect to the Orinoco one of these tributaries of the corona features Angel

tributaries of the corona features Angel

tributaries of the corona features Angel Falls the highest waterfall in the world

Falls the highest waterfall in the world

Falls the highest waterfall in the world the Orinoco is home to several South

the Orinoco is home to several South

the Orinoco is home to several South American Indian cultures who have lived

American Indian cultures who have lived

American Indian cultures who have lived in harmony with the river for thousands

in harmony with the river for thousands

in harmony with the river for thousands of years in fact the name Orinoco which

of years in fact the name Orinoco which

of years in fact the name Orinoco which means place to paddle comes from the

means place to paddle comes from the

means place to paddle comes from the language of the war our people one of

language of the war our people one of

language of the war our people one of the Orinoco native cultures is the

the Orinoco native cultures is the

the Orinoco native cultures is the Yanomami about 2,000 Yanomami live near

Yanomami about 2,000 Yanomami live near

Yanomami about 2,000 Yanomami live near the river far removed from the modern

the river far removed from the modern

the river far removed from the modern world for them and about 20 other local

world for them and about 20 other local

world for them and about 20 other local cultures the Orinoco is a vital natural

cultures the Orinoco is a vital natural

cultures the Orinoco is a vital natural resource the river offers not only a way

resource the river offers not only a way

resource the river offers not only a way to travel but a supply of clean water

to travel but a supply of clean water

to travel but a supply of clean water and fresh food

there are more than a thousand different

there are more than a thousand different species of birds that roost here and a

species of birds that roost here and a

species of birds that roost here and a huge variety of fish swim in these

huge variety of fish swim in these

huge variety of fish swim in these waters including the dangerous piranha

waters including the dangerous piranha

waters including the dangerous piranha then there’s the Orinoco crocodile which

then there’s the Orinoco crocodile which

then there’s the Orinoco crocodile which at 20 feet in length is the longest of

at 20 feet in length is the longest of

at 20 feet in length is the longest of its kind in the world and there are big

its kind in the world and there are big

its kind in the world and there are big snakes too like this giant the Anaconda

snakes too like this giant the Anaconda

snakes too like this giant the Anaconda one of the largest species of serpent

one of the largest species of serpent

one of the largest species of serpent anywhere in the rainforest you may catch

anywhere in the rainforest you may catch

anywhere in the rainforest you may catch a glimpse of a rare cat like this Jaguar

a glimpse of a rare cat like this Jaguar

a glimpse of a rare cat like this Jaguar but out in the open plains or jános

but out in the open plains or jános

but out in the open plains or jános you’re more likely to see the planets

you’re more likely to see the planets

you’re more likely to see the planets biggest rodent the capybara scurrying

biggest rodent the capybara scurrying

biggest rodent the capybara scurrying around in the last 50 years or so a few

around in the last 50 years or so a few

around in the last 50 years or so a few cities and towns along the river such as

cities and towns along the river such as

cities and towns along the river such as Ciudad Guayana have grown tremendously

Ciudad Guayana have grown tremendously

Ciudad Guayana have grown tremendously and there are some signs that the modern

and there are some signs that the modern

and there are some signs that the modern industrial world is creeping in parts of

industrial world is creeping in parts of

industrial world is creeping in parts of the Orinoco now have dams to control

the Orinoco now have dams to control

the Orinoco now have dams to control flooding and to harness the rivers

flooding and to harness the rivers

flooding and to harness the rivers energy to produce electricity mining

energy to produce electricity mining

energy to produce electricity mining companies are digging for rich mineral

companies are digging for rich mineral

companies are digging for rich mineral deposits like gold and diamonds

deposits like gold and diamonds

deposits like gold and diamonds international oil companies have started

international oil companies have started

international oil companies have started to pump natural gas and oil out of the

to pump natural gas and oil out of the

to pump natural gas and oil out of the ground and from the mouths of the

ground and from the mouths of the

ground and from the mouths of the Orinoco huge commercial vessels now sail

Orinoco huge commercial vessels now sail

Orinoco huge commercial vessels now sail along the river for 250 miles but

along the river for 250 miles but

along the river for 250 miles but despite these changes the River in the

despite these changes the River in the

despite these changes the River in the region have stayed relatively untouched

region have stayed relatively untouched

region have stayed relatively untouched several national parks and forest

several national parks and forest

several national parks and forest preserves have been set aside to keep

preserves have been set aside to keep

preserves have been set aside to keep the area wild for future generations

the area wild for future generations

the area wild for future generations these preservation efforts will help the

these preservation efforts will help the

these preservation efforts will help the Orinoco River continue to be an

Orinoco River continue to be an

Orinoco River continue to be an important resource for Venezuela a vital

important resource for Venezuela a vital

important resource for Venezuela a vital waterway that supports the people and

waterway that supports the people and

waterway that supports the people and living creatures that rely on it