Orinoco

With a length of 1,330 miles, the Orinoco is one of South America's longest rivers. Its drainage basin, known as the Orinoquia, is 989,000 km2 in size, with 76.3 percent in Venezuela and the rest in Colombia. It is the world's fourth-largest river in terms of water flow volume. The Orinoco river and its tributaries are the main transportation arteries for eastern and central Venezuela, as well as the Colombian Llanos. The Orinoco basin's environment and species are exceedingly diversified.

The river is navigable for the majority of its course, and dredging has allowed ocean ships to travel as far as Ciudad Bolvar, 435 kilometers upstream, at the confluence of the Caron river. Cargo is delivered by river steamers as far as Puerto Ayacucho and the Atures Rapids.

The Orinoco River system is home to the boto and the gigantic otter. The Orinoco crocodile is one of the world's most endangered reptiles. Its natural range is limited to the Orinoco River Basin's middle and lower reaches. In the river basin, over 1000 fish species have been identified, with roughly 15% of them being indigenous. Species found in brackish or saline water in the Orinoco estuary, as well as many species restricted to freshwater, are among the fish in the river.

Length: 1,330 miles (shared with Venezuela)