The Cuyuni River is a
South American
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
river and a tributary of the
Essequibo River
The Essequibo River ( Spanish: ''Río Esequibo'' originally called by Alonso de Ojeda ''Río Dulce'') is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil–Guyana b ...
. It rises in the
Guiana Highlands
The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word ''Guayanas'' (''Las Guayanas''), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories:
* French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France
* ...
of
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
, where it descends northward to
El Dorado, and turns eastward to meander through the tropical rain forests of the
Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region 7) is a region of Guyana. Venezuela claims the territory as part of Guayana Esequiba.
It borders the regions of Barima-Waini, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara and Pomeroon-Supenaam to the north, the region of Upper De ...
Region of
Guyana. It finally turns southeastward, flowing to its confluence with the
Mazaruni River
The Mazaruni River is a tributary of the Essequibo River in northern Guyana. Its source is in the remote western forests of the Pakaraima Mountains and its confluence with the Cuyuni River is near Bartica. As it descends from the Guiana Highlands ...
.
The Cuyuni River marks the limit of the disputed territory of
Guyana Essequibo for approximately .
Makarapan Mountain is a sandstone range by the Cuyuni.
History
In 1681, an island in the mouth of the Cuyuni River was cleared and planted with
cassava
''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated ...
for the use of the Dutch garrison. By 1694, a new plantation on the Cuyuni River above the fort was established. By 1703 a post was established on the Pariacot Savannah, in the upper Cuyuni.
On January 2, 1895, the "Incident of the Cuyuni river", so named by the general , was an armed confrontation between Venezuelans and British in the region of the river over the territorial dispute between
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
and
British Guyana
British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana.
The first European to encounter Guiana was ...
, which under Sifontes the Venezuelans left winners.
At dawn, British policemen led by an Inspector Barnes of England took an unoccupied military station of Venezuelan nationality, located on the left bank of the river. Barnes’ men hoisted the British flag during the day.
Captain Andrés Avelino Domínguez, second in command of Sifontes, was sent to recover the settlement. The result was the withdrawal of the British and the capture of Barnes and his men, who were taken to the General Police Station, which increased tensions between the two countries amid an
internal crisis in Venezuela.
Settlement
The river is a source of
alluvial
Alluvium (from Latin ''alluvius'', from ''alluere'' 'to wash against') is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. All ...
gold and attracts mining in the form of dredging.
Illegal mining
Illegal mining is mining activity that is undertaken without state permission, in particular in absence of land rights, mining licenses, and exploration or mineral transportation permits.
Illegal mining can be a subsistence activity, as is the ca ...
also occurs on the river banks, and mining also has exacerbated the border issue between Guyana and Venezuela.
Large-scale mining operation
Aurora gold mine is on the Cuyuni River.
Development of a
hydroelectric power site is under consideration at Kamaria on the Cuyuni River.
Venezuela
El Dorado is a Venezuelan settlement on the Cuyuni River.
Guyana
Some of the
Kali'na people live in the Cuyuni River valley, part of which is in
Guyana.
Eteringbang is a border settlement with an airstrip. Saint Martin and
Ankoko Island have been the subject of further disputes between Venezuela and Guyana. In 2015, GDF forces continued observation from Eteringbang and Kaikan and other points along the river.
The town of
Bartica
Bartica, Essequibo, is a town on the left bank of the Essequibo River in Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region 7), at the confluence of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers with the Essequibo River in Guyana. It is the regional capital of Cuyuni-Mazaruni.
Conside ...
is close to the mouth of the Cuyuni where it meets with the confluence of Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers.
See also
*
Guayana Esequiba
(), sometimes also called or Essequibo, is a disputed territory of west of the Essequibo River that is administered and controlled by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela.
*
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
References
{{coord, 6, 23, N, 58, 41, W, display=title, region:GY_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki
Rivers of Guyana
Rivers of Venezuela
History of Guyana
Essequibo basin
International rivers of South America
Guyana–Venezuela border
Border rivers