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The Orinoco Delta
The Orinoco delta is a vast, intricate labyrinth of waterways weaving
through a simmering jungle to carry the waters of the Orinoco to
the Atlantic Ocean. The Orinoco Delta – the landmass now known as
Delta Amacuro State – has formed over the course of thousands of
years as the mighty river has deposited millions of tons of sediment
into the ocean. Over the last century alone, some 1,000km² has been
added to the delta, which continues to extend into the Atlantic
at a rate of 40m per year over its entire 360km coastline. The Orinoco
branches off into over 60 caños (waterways) and 40 rivers which
diffuse through 41,000km² of forested islands, swamps and lagoons.
The Delta and its Wildlife
The delta is divided into upper and lower regions, west and east of the
Caño Macerao respectively. This division is a consequence of the flood
control program initiated in the 1960s; Caño Mánamo was dammed, reducing
seasonal flooding in the north and making the land more suitable for cattle
farming. There was, however, a cascade of knock-on effects in the region.
The reduced water levels in the upper delta caused the region to become
tidal, and water levels now rise and fall by 1-2m daily. In the dry season,
salt water now moves further up the waterways, which has had a significant
effect on the flora and fauna of the area and has forced resident Warao
to relocate, seeking fresh water upriver. The lower delta, still under
the influence of the Orinoco, is subject to flooding during the dry season,
when water levels may vary by up to 15m. Since 1991, 331,000 ha of the
lower delta has been protected under Mariusa National Park.
A massive variety of habitats has arisen within the delta, both
terrestrial and aquatic. Mixed tropical rainforest, dominated by
towering palm trees, prevails over much of the terra firma, fostering
a variety of flora including fruiting trees, orchids, bromeliads
and arboreal ferns; the latter of which flourish in the moist air
of the canopy. Grassland swamps and marshes brim with aquatic plants,
and estuarine waterways towards the ocean are thick with mangroves.
Throughout the delta, the caños are themselves hugely diverse in
form. Wide channels break off into narrow rivulets, isolated pools
and lagoons. Some, heavy with sediments are brown in color, others
are black with tannic acids. Many are carpeted with vast floating
meadows of bora and grasses, slowly drifting along with the current.
Needless to say, the wildlife of the delta is also extremely rich
and varied. Jaguar, puma, ocelot, red howler and capuchin monkeys,
capybara, agouti, giant otter, manatee and dolphins are just a handful
of the countless species of mammal that can be observed in their
natural habitats. Among the extensive bird population are hoatzin,
macaws, parrots, toucans, caciques, kingfishers, cormorants, egrets,
falcons, hawks, harpy-eagles, weaverbirds and hummingbirds. There
is also an untold number of amphibians, reptiles and fish species,
including anaconda, boas, vipers, fer-de-lance, coral snakes, iguana,
cayman, turtles, piranha, stingrays and catfish.
Warao Indians
The Warao Indians – literally the ‘Canoe People’- are the native
inhabitants of the delta. With a population of 24,000, the Warao
constitute the second largest indigenous tribe in the country. Family
groups reside in palafitos (wooden houses raised on stilts) along
the banks of the river, and spend most of their daily lives in canoes
fishing the nearby caños and hunting and gathering in the surrounding
forests. Skilled craftspeople, the Warao build their palafitos and
canoes from forest wood using traditional techniques, and, owing
to increased contact with tourists, have also begun to carve figurines
from balsa wood and to make necklaces, baskets and hammocks from
the leaves and seeds of the ubiquitous moriche palm. The moriche
palm, however, supplies more than just the basis for artesania.
Otherwise known as the ‘tree of life’, the moriche provides the
Indians with fruit, juices and a sweet pulp that can be made into
a type of bread. Moreover, the trunk of the palm is used to cultivate
a thumb-sized beetle grub, the moriche worm, a nutritious dietary
supplement.
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