The Great Essequibo River

The Esequibo River is the largest river in Guyana,border river between Guyana and Venezuela and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,010 km through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.

The first discovery was by the ships of Don Juan Esquivel, deputy of Don Diego Columbus, son of the admiral who lent his name to christen the Essequibo River today. In 1499 Alonso de Ojeda performs scans through the mouths of the Orinoco and who allegedly was the first time I browse the Essequibo. The first European settlement in Guyana was built by the Dutch along the lower part of the Essequibo in 1615. The colonists remained on friendly terms with the Native American peoples of the area, establishing riverside sugar and cacao plantations. The river has approximately three hundred and sixty five island that is about one for every day of the year. Some of the islands are so small that it has one structure in it and when the tide comes in it submerges the island leaving just the house on top of the water. There are many small tributaries that once can enjoy. There are man water taxis that one can take to the different island. The people of the country side are very friendly and welcome tourists.