The largest lake is the lagoon of South America. Lake Patos: "The Biggest in Brazil
South America is the richest continent in water resources. The river runoff of the mainland is twice the average runoff of the world's rivers. The main source of food for rivers is rainfall. Glacially fed rivers are only in the south of the Andes. The role of snow supply is small. The mainland is characterized by large river systems. Their formation is facilitated by the flat relief of the eastern part and the high mountain ranges of the mainland, large contrasts in heights, and a humid climate.
Rivers of South America
The Andes Mountains are the main watershed of the mainland. To the east of the Andes flow large and full-flowing rivers belonging to the Atlantic Ocean basin. They provide 90% of the river runoff. Among them are the Amazon, Orinoco, Parana. On the western slopes of the Andes, short rivers originate, which belong to the Pacific Ocean. (Identify the river basins on the map.) The area of internal runoff is insignificant (about 6%).
The longest and most full-flowing river on Earth originates in the Andes mountains - Amazon and many of its major tributaries. The Amazon Basin is located in an abundantly and evenly moistened area, where 1500-3000 mm of precipitation falls. The Amazon River has a length of 7100 km (with the source of the Apacheta). The river collects numerous tributaries from the slopes of the Andes, the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus. The Amazon river basin is the largest in the world (about 7 million km2). It is almost the size of Australia in area. The waters of the Amazon make up 1/5 of all the waters carried into the World Ocean by the rivers of our planet. The desalination effect of the Amazon waters on the ocean is manifested over a distance of 400 km from the mouth of the river. After the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers, the Amazon is 1-2 km wide. Downstream, the width increases to 5 km, and in the lower reaches to 20 km. At the mouth, the width of the main channel with numerous islands reaches 80 km.
The Amazon is full of water all year round, as it is fed by thousands of tributaries. The largest tributaries: right - Madeira and left - Rio Negro. The highest water level in the Amazon occurs after the rainy season in the Southern Hemisphere (in May), when its right tributaries carry the bulk. The water level in the Manaus area rises by 12-15 meters. The lowest water level is in August and September.
Together with its tributaries, the Amazon forms the world's largest system of inland waterways, stretching over 25,000 km.
From the mouth to the city of Manaus, which is 4300 km, the Amazon is accessible to large ships. The river has huge hydropower resources. 1/3 of the species of freshwater fish of our planet lives in the waters of the Amazon. This is 6 times more than in the waters of all of Europe. The Amazon is recognized as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Paraná("silver river") - the second largest river in South America (4380 km). Like the Amazon, it has two sources (Rio Grande and Paranaiba) on the Brazilian Plateau. Parana, unlike the Amazon, crosses several climatic zones. This is why the amount of rainfall that arrives in different parts of the river basin is not the same. In the upper reaches of the Parana, most of the rain falls in summer, in the lower reaches - in winter.
The river cuts its course through the solid foundations of the platform and is therefore characterized by rapids and waterfalls. The largest of them is the Iguazu Falls. This is not just a waterfall, but a whole system of waterfalls stretching for almost three kilometers.
Located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the world's most majestic natural wonders. The waterfall falls into the gorge from two steep basalt steps in 275 jets and streams separated by rocky islands. The total height of the fall is 72 m, the width is 2700 m. The roar of water is heard for 20-25 kilometers.
Third largest river in South America Orinoc o (2730 km) originates on the Guiana Plateau. Orinoco floods in the summer thanks to the rains. Its tributaries are turbulent, they have many rapids and waterfalls, so they are not suitable for navigation. The Orinoco River is the most important trade route.
The basins of the Parana and Orinoco rivers are located mainly in the subequatorial belts, therefore they have a pronounced seasonality of runoff - rapid floods in summer and a sharp decline in water in winter.
On one of the tributaries of the Orinoco is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel (1054 m).
A huge column of water, foam and steam falls with a mighty roar, as if from clouds. The waterfall is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Lakes of South America
South America is not very rich in lakes. By origin, they are divided into tectonic, glacial, volcanic, lagoonal, oxbow. The largest glacial lakes are concentrated in the west in the southern part of the Andes. On the inner plateaus of the Andes, on the plain of Gran Chaco, lakes are tectonic, endorheic, saline. Along the low-lying shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea there are large lagoon lakes - shallow parts of the ocean, separated from it by land and connected to it by a channel.
The largest alpine lake, Titicaca, is located in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Its area is 8300 km2. The lake is located at an altitude of 3812 m, occupying a deep tectonic depression. The depth of the lake is 304 m. This is the largest mountain lake in the world in terms of fresh water reserves.
It is believed that the lake is a remnant of the sea bay. Balsa trees grow around the lake, from which the Indians make rafts-boats.
In the north of the mainland, in Venezuela, there is the largest lake-lagoon Maracaibo with an area of more than 16,000 km2. It is connected by a narrow channel with the bay of the Caribbean Sea. The lake plays an important role in fishing. The most valuable product of his trades is shrimp.
There are approximately 2,000 reservoirs in South America. The Parana River is a cascade of reservoirs.
Artesian waters are widely used in the water supply of the arid territories of South America (the Gran Chaco plain, intermountain basins). The most powerful glaciers in South America are found in the southern Andes of Chile and Argentina. There they descend to the sea and form vast ice fields.
Glaciation is developed in the Patagonian Andes. The largest glacier is Perito Moreno. The territory of the glacier is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its area is 250 km2, its width is about 5 km.
South America is the continent richest in water resources and has a dense river network. Most of the runoff is in the Atlantic Ocean. Here flows the longest and most full-flowing river in the world - the Amazon, there are two largest lakes - Titicaca and Maracaibo. The main source of food for rivers is precipitation. Rivers are used as sources of fresh water, they have large reserves of energy resources and are important transport routes.
And the Panama Canal separates these continents.
The mainland lies entirely in the western hemisphere. In the northern part it is crossed by the equator, and almost in the middle by the Southern Tropic. This continent is the wettest on Earth. Most of it has a warm climate. The shores are slightly indented, the mainland does not have large bays, islands and peninsulas. The nature of the mainland is full of contrasts and diversity. There are many natural records here and there are places that civilization has not touched. The natural world of the mainland impresses with its richness, uniqueness, and beauty. On this wettest continent there are many rivers, mountains, plains, endemic living organisms, the smallest proportion of islands and peninsulas, many world and mainland natural records,. This mainland has many world and mainland records. The indigenous population of the mainland is represented by Indian tribes.
Nature records of South America
The largest plain in the world
The Amazonian lowland is the largest plain on Earth in terms of its size. The area is 5.2 million sq. km. It is inferior in size only.
Lowest land elevation in South America is now considered to be the terrain level of Laguna del Carbon.
It is located in the Argentine province of San ta Cruz about 60 meters lower than the previously known lowest mark of San Matias (-40 m). This mark is now considered a record not only for the mainland of South America, but for the entire part of the world of America as a whole, its value (-105 meters).
The highest point on the mainland, Mount Akonkagu
Its value is 6962 meters. This point is the highest in the Western Hemisphere. The name of the mountain in Araucanian means "stone guard". The mountain is located in the central part of the Andes, in its main Cordillera. The mountain is located in the Aconcagua National Park. There are many at the top, the largest are Polsky and Vostochny. For the first time, the Englishman E. Fitzgerald tried to climb this peak in January 1897.
The highest volcano on the mainland - Llullaillaca
It is located at an altitude of 6723 meters on the ridge of the Western Cordillera. It is located on the high plateau of the Atacama Desert region. At its top there is a glacier. The last volcanic eruption was in 1877.
The largest peninsula of the mainland is Guajira.
Its area is 14 thousand sq. km. The northernmost point of the mainland is located on this peninsula. The Guajiro Indians live on the Guajira Peninsula, speaking the Guajiro language.
The largest island of Isla - Grande Tierra del Fuego
It is part of the archipelago of the largest archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. The area of the island of Isla is 48 thousand square kilometers. It is the largest in this archipelago.
Tierra del Fuego, the largest archipelago of South America
It is located at the southernmost tip of the mainland, and is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. It was opened in 1520 by F. Magellan. Seeing the lights on the shores of the islands, F. Magellan gave them a name. The area of this archipelago is 72 thousand km². south of Tierra del Fuego is the widest strait on Earth -.
The terrain on the archipelago is hilly, there are many glaciers. Fjords on the shores of the islands. The highest altitude of the archipelago is Mount Shipton (2469 meters). The climate is humid and cold. Precipitation falls more than 5,000 mm/year. Avg. January temperature 10–11 °С, July 0–2 °С.
Beech and evergreen forests, meadows with steppe vegetation grow up to a height of 400-500 meters. Penguins live on the coast. In some places of the archipelago, nature has been preserved in its original form. In order to preserve the unique nature of the arch. Tierra del Fuego created the Alberto Agostini National Park in Chile. People extract oil and gas, breed sheep, fish and serve ships calling at ports.
The largest and driest desert on the Atacama mainland
It is located in is not only the driest on the mainland, but also in the world. This is the highest desert in the world.
Precipitation here does not fall every year. The average annual rainfall is 0.1 mm. Precipitation often falls in the form of dew and fog. In some places of the desert, there was no precipitation for about 400 years. This desert is ten times drier in.
The length of the desert from north to south is 1000 km. It covers an area of 150,000 sq. km. Average daily temperatures range from 0 to 25 C.
Despite the drought in the desert, there are 200 species of living beings. The most common are cacti. There are 160 species here, and 90 of them are endemic. This desert is one of the oldest. It has existed for over 20 million years. People began to master it 10,000 years ago. Water is extracted in oases from great depths or from fog.
The Atacama is home to the famous Valley of the Moon. Atacama is considered an ideal place for astronomical observations.
The Atacama Desert is home to the world's largest saltpeter deposit. The desert is also interesting because there is the only place on Earth that resembles a lunar landscape. This is the Valley of the Moon between the city of Calama and the city of San Pedro de Atacama.
The lowest mainland temperature (-39C) in Valle de los Superion
The highest temperature of the mainland (+49C) in Valle de Maria)
The least rainfall in the Atacama Desert
They fall out 0.1 mm. In some places of the desert precipitation did not fall for several centuries. Precipitation in the form of dew and fog.
The highest rainfall occurs in Kibuya in Colombia.
Here the average annual rainfall is 7734 mm.
The largest lake of Maracaibo
The area of the lake is 14,350 sq. km. It is a sea lagoon in the Gulf of Venezuela, in which a specially dug deep-sea channel for ocean tankers to enter the lake. The water in the lake is desalinated by the rivers flowing into it. Thunderstorms are very frequent here, 140-160 days a year. The flag of the state of Zulia features lightning. The second place among the largest lakes of the continent is Lake Patus. This is also a lagoon lake, directly connected to the sea.
The largest lake with fresh water - Titicaca
It is located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. Its name in the Quechua language comes from two words. Kaka is a mountain. rock and "titi" - puma, this is a sacred animal of the tribe. In the language of other tribes, the name is translated as the lake of the Pukino tribe. There is an explanation that the name means "lead mountain" and others.
Its area is 6900 sq. km. It is located at an altitude of 8300 meters. The average depth of the lake is 140 -280 meters. Water temperature from +10 to +12 degrees. 300 rivers flow into the lake, which greatly desalinate it.
At a depth of thirty meters at the bottom of the lake, a wall one km long and a sculpture of a human head were found. These finds are 1500 years old. It can be assumed that the bottom was once dry land.
The largest endorheic lake on the continent, Mar Chiquita
Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest on the mainland
It is located in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni. Its area is 10.6 thousand sq. km. and it is located at an altitude of 3650 meters. At present, Uyuni is not only the largest salt marsh on the mainland, but it is the largest in the world. The thickness of the salt layer is 2-10 meters. During the rainy season, the salt marsh turns into a salt lake with clear water.
About 40 thousand years ago, this area was part of the large Lake Minchin. After its gradual drying up, two small lakes that currently exist appeared - this is Lake Poopo and Uru - Uru. In addition to them, two large salt marshes also appeared: Uyuni and Salar - de Coipasa. According to experts, the total salt reserves are 10 billion tons of table salt.
Every year in November, flamingos fly to the coast of the salt marsh. Due to the large flat surface, clear sky, dry air in the Uyuni region, satellite instruments are being tested.
Tourism is developing in Uyuni. In order to create exotic for tourists, local residents make hotels from salt blocks. Tourists are invited to see the "cemetery of steam locomotives". These locomotives used to work here, but now they are not needed.
The longest and fullest
Recently, information has appeared that this river is longer than the Nile. Brazilians call the length of the Amazon 6992 km, there is evidence that the length of the river is 6450 km. This river, despite the controversial figures about its length, has a large length. She is the great river of the mainland and the world. It is the most full-flowing on the mainland and in the world. It has high water all year round due to heavy rainfall and the waters brought by the right and left full-flowing tributaries.
The Amazon ejects 200,000 cubic meters in one second. meters of water. This one has the largest swimming pool on the mainland and in the world. Its basin is the Amazonian lowland. Its area is 7.2 million sq. km. The Amazon has the largest delta in the world. Its area is 100,000 sq. km. The width of the mouth is 20 km.
In the river there is the largest, jumping out of the water, ten-meter pyraruk fish.
second longest on the mainland
It is located in the southeast of the mainland and occupies the 14th place in the world in length, and its length is 4380 km. The river originates in the Brazilian Plateau and flows into La Plata Bay. Its basin area is 2.6 million sq. km. The depth of the river is from 12 to 48 meters. The river has a large delta, 130 km long and 18 to 65 km wide. Delta consists of 11 branches. Parana has a great energy potential. It was used in the construction of the Itaipu hydroelectric power station, the largest on the mainland.
On the right tributary of its Iguazu River is the most abundant waterfall in the world - Iguazu.
The largest reservoir in Guri
It is located in Venezuela on the Caroni River, which is a tributary of the Orinoco River. The official name of the name is Simon Bolivar. It was built in 1968.
The area of the reservoir is 4.3 thousand square kilometers, the volume of water is 135 cubic kilometers, and the length is 70 km. It was created next to the Guri hydroelectric power station, which is considered the third in the world in terms of power after the Chinese Sanxia and the Brazilian Itaipu.
The longest inland river is the Rio Dulcier
It is located in the northwest of Argentina. The Rio-Dulcier originates in the Andes. Its source is called Sali. Further, the river flows through the arid plain of the Gran Chaco and, splitting into branches, flows into Lake Mar - Chiquito. Its locals call the "sweet" (fresh) river.
The length of the river is 812 km. The waters of the river are used to irrigate fields in the arid plain.
The Brazilian plateau is the largest on the mainland.
It occupies the eastern part of the mainland. The plateau is bordered in the north by the Amazonian lowland, in the west by the Andes, in the southeast by the La Plata lowland.
Its area is about 4 million sq. km. The length and width of the plateau is approximately 3200 km. Altitudes from 500 meters in the west and over 2000 meters in the east. The highest point is Mount Bandeira 2897 meters. In its eastern part there are several mountain ranges, the largest are the Sierra do Mar and the Sierra do Espinhaço. On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, individual mountains rise in the form of towers and cones. They are called "sugar loaves". The bowels of the plateau are rich in ore minerals.
On the plateau, nature is very diverse, its climate, soils, flora and fauna. 95% of the population of South America lives on its territory.
La Plata lowland is the second largest on the mainland
It is located in the southeastern part of the mainland. On its territory are Paraguay and Uruguay, the southeast of Bolivia, the south of Brazil, the north of Argentina
Its size of the territory is more than 3 million sq. km. This plain stretches from north to south for 2400 km, and from west to east for 900 km.
Nature is diverse: steppes (pampas), forests, swamps. Agriculture is well developed on the plain.
Angel Falls, the highest in the world– 979 meters
Animal world
Endemics
Among the animals there are endemics: armadillos and anteaters, sloths and broad-nosed monkeys, llamas and chinchillas, rhea ostriches and tinamous birds, vultures and toucans, hummingbirds and some types of parrots.
The biggest
The largest turtles on land and in the ocean are found here.
The only marsupials
The only marsupials are possums.
The only equids
Odd-toed ungulates - tapirs
Anteaters
Ostrich Nandu
The nature of South America is full of diversity and contrasts, there are many world and mainland natural, cultural and historical records.
South America receives the highest amount of precipitation compared to the rest of the continents of the Earth. This created good conditions for the emergence of an abundant system of lakes and rivers. They play a serious role in various aspects of the life of mankind and the Earth, among them there is also a tourism component. By the way, some rivers and lakes in South America contain virtually no water. But for travelers, this does not make them less attractive. Even, rather, on the contrary - today many people are interested in
The lakes of the mainland attract a lot of travelers every year. People come from all over the world to see some of them.
Maracaibo
Many tourists today are interested in exploring South America. Lakes also attract their attention. The largest of them is Maracaibo. But if it is considered as a geographical formation, it has signs of a bay. Its main feature is a rather terrible and unique natural phenomenon - the Catatumbo lightning.
At the point where the Catatumbo River flows into it, lightning is observed. Here they strike almost continuously for 9 hours. Almost half of the nights here are illuminated by very bright flashes, they can be seen at 400 km.
This phenomenon is explained by the collision of methane rising up. It comes from local swamps, as well as from the Andes, from descending air currents. At this moment, a potential difference is formed in the clouds, which is constantly discharged in the form of celestial electricity.
Peach Lake
red lake
Considering the lakes of South America, it is impossible not to highlight the Red Lake. This is often referred to as Laguna Colorado. This lake is located in the reserve called Eduardo Avaroa in Bolivia, at an altitude of almost 4200 meters.
Its uniqueness is based on two factors.
- First: algae “live” in this place, which produce substances that reliably protect them from ultraviolet radiation, and therefore change the shade of water. The lake, depending on the temperature and time of day, can acquire different shades - from scarlet to dark purple.
- Next: this is a place where thousands of flamingos settle, among which there are representatives of the rarest species.
Uyuni
Some lakes in South America are characterized by a small amount of water. So in Uyuni, she appears extremely rarely. This is the world's largest dry salt lake, which was formed in the prehistoric period by the transformation of several reservoirs at once.
This giant salt marsh, with a total area of about 10.5 thousand km², is located in Bolivia, in the south of the Altiplano, a desert plain. It contains large reserves of salt, lithium chloride.
For travelers who come here during the rainy season, the lake gives an amazing experience. At this time, there is a feeling of driving or walking on a huge mirror, flat and smooth, which stretches over vast distances.
There are many beautiful lakes on the mainland. Some of them are located in hard-to-reach regions, others are "tourist untwisted attractions." Like it or not, seeing the large lakes of South America is worth every traveler looking for unforgettable sensations and vivid impressions.
South America receives the highest amount of precipitation compared to the rest of the continents of the Earth. This created good conditions for the emergence of an abundant system of lakes and rivers. They play a serious role in various aspects of the life of mankind and the Earth, among them there is also a tourism component. By the way, some rivers and lakes in South America contain virtually no water. But for travelers, this does not make them less attractive. Even, rather, on the contrary - today many people are interested in South America.
The lakes of the mainland attract a lot of travelers every year. People come from all over the world to see some of them.
Maracaibo
Many tourists today are interested in exploring South America. Lakes also attract their attention. The largest of them is Maracaibo. But if it is considered as a geographical formation, it has signs of a bay. Its main feature is a rather terrible and unique natural phenomenon - the Catatumbo lightning. At the point where the Catatumbo River flows into it, lightning is observed. Here they strike almost continuously for 9 hours. Almost half of the nights here are illuminated by very bright flashes, they can be seen at 400 km. This phenomenon is explained by the collision of methane rising up. It comes from local swamps, as well as from the Andes, from descending air currents. At this moment, a potential difference is formed in the clouds, which is constantly discharged in the form of celestial electricity.
Peach Lake is located on the island of Trinidad. No one in their right mind will swim in it, even if they are very interested in South America, whose lakes attract the attention of a huge number of tourists every year. This is a natural huge reservoir of "live" asphalt, the total area of which is about 40 hectares. A gloomy, black, periodically gurgling surface in some areas with islands of soil, it is not clear how it appeared here, on which twisted, stunted trees grow - in this place the landscape is surprisingly non-tourist. People come here not to admire, but to see something unique and go to the local museum. Here are exhibits obtained from the bituminous lake: Indian ceramics, the bones of a huge sloth, as well as a cut of a tree trunk, whose age was estimated at 4000 years.
Titicaca
This lake has several "titles" at once:
- this is the highest mountain lake in the world, which has the possibility of navigation;
- the second largest on the continent of South America (the lakes of the mainland are “scattered” throughout its territory);
- South America has the largest fresh water reservoir.
For lovers of adventure and travel, this lake is surrounded by a veil of mysteries and legends. For example, treasure hunters believe that the treasures of ancient civilizations are buried at its bottom. Red Lake
This is often referred to as Laguna Colorado. This lake is located in the reserve called Eduardo Avaroa in Bolivia, at an altitude of almost 4200 meters. Its uniqueness is based on two factors.
- First: algae “live” in this place, which produce substances that reliably protect them from ultraviolet radiation, and therefore change the shade of water. The lake, depending on the temperature and time of day, can acquire different shades - from scarlet to dark purple.
- Next: this is a place where thousands of flamingos settle, among which there are representatives of the rarest species.
Some lakes in South America are characterized by a small amount of water. So in Uyuni, she appears extremely rarely. This is the world's largest dry salt lake, which was formed in the prehistoric period by the transformation of several reservoirs at once. This giant salt marsh, with a total area of about 10.5 thousand km², is located in Bolivia, in the south of the Altiplano, a desert plain. It contains large reserves of salt, lithium chloride. For travelers who come here during the rainy season, the lake gives an amazing experience. At this time, there is a feeling of driving or walking on a huge mirror, flat and smooth, which stretches over vast distances. There are many beautiful lakes on the mainland. Some of them are located in hard-to-reach regions, others are "tourist untwisted attractions." Like it or not, seeing the large lakes of South America is worth every traveler looking for unforgettable sensations and vivid impressions.
The largest lake in South America and one of the oldest lakes on our planet, located in Venezuela. The lake is surrounded by a colorful and rich flora and fauna. Its coast and bottom are the place of oil and gas production. On the shore of the lake is the economic center of the country - the city of Maracaibo. An amazing natural phenomenon takes place over the lake - the "lightning of Catatumbo". Atmospheric discharges beat here 160 days a year for 10 hours a day.
LAKE OF DISCOVERY
In the history of Lake Maracaibo, the two most important dates are August 24, 1499, when the Spaniards discovered it, and 1914, when the first oil wells were drilled on its coast.
The bowl-depression of Lake Maracaibo (or, in other words, the deflection of the tectonic plate of the Northwestern Andes) was formed approximately 36-22 million years ago. This is one of the oldest lakes on Earth. Archaeologists in Venezuela believe that people appeared on its shores about 15,000 years ago. The first European who brought caravels here along the Tablaso Strait was Alonso Ojeda, one of the officers of Columbus, whom he entrusted with an independent expedition. It is known that Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian living in Spain, was also with Ojeda at that time, the same one after whom the New World became America. It is believed that when he saw the houses on the piles of the Parauhano Indians, he exclaimed: “Oh, Veneciola!” (“Oh, little Venice!”), and thus the name Venezuela was born. Several legends are associated with the name of the lake. In the most stable of them, there is a cacique (leader) of the Motilon Indians named Mara, who fought with the colonialists at the beginning of the 16th century. When Mara was hit by a bullet, his warriors shouted "Mara cayo!" ("Mara fell!"). Some historians believe that the name Maracaibo appeared earlier and it comes from the name of the adjacent swamps - Maara-Ivo - "Snake Place".
The city of Maracaibo was founded three times. In 1525, Emperor Charles V transferred the right to rule Venezuela to the German bankers Welsers for 12 barrels of gold for 30 years. In 1529, on the site of the village of Villa de Maracaibo, Ambrosius Eichinger (Ambrose Alfinger in the Spanish version) built a port. By 1535 life in the city had died out. Alonso Pacheco founded it again in 1569, but the war with the Indians prevented him from continuing what he started. Only the third attempt was successful, by Petro Maldonado, in 1571. In the 17th century. the port of Maracaibo was often attacked by pirates. The history of its capture by Henry Morgan is described in R. Sabatini's novel "The Odyssey of Captain Blood". The transformation of a small town into an economic center began in 1918, when oil and gas production took on an industrial scale.
Lake Maracaibo is, strictly speaking, a lagoon of the Venezuelan Gulf of the Caribbean Sea, connected to it by a narrow shallow strait of Tablaso, the width of which is 8-10 km, the natural depth was 2-4 m, in 1957 it was deepened to 10-14, 5 m, for the passage of ocean-going vessels. The lake is located in the northwest of Venezuela in a tectonic depression between the Sierra de Perija in the west and the Cordillera de Merida in the south and east.
PAINTS OF MARCAIBO
The world of this lake is rich, colorful and known for one of the rarest natural phenomena.
The vegetation of the shores of the lake varies along the north-south axis. The shores of the Tablaso Strait are covered with typical savanna grasses, to the south the relief of the shores rises, more and more rivers flow into the lake, the water becomes more and more fresh, and on the southern coast of the lake, above the swampy lagoons with mangroves, a dense tropical forest rises like a wall, which is home to many animals . The screams of howler monkeys are heard far away. Plantations of sugar cane and cocoa trees spread over the drained areas. The 1806 testimony of the French ambassador to Caracas Francois Poe about the Guajiro Indians is interesting: “They are brave warriors, skillfully manage their canoes, all as one are excellent swimmers and divers. At the same time, they fantasize a lot, and write down something all the time, obviously having a penchant for writing. Their women are no less artistic, but they are distinguished by great common sense. Creative talent in the form of guajiro and parauhano is still noticeable today. Women wear wide, bright and long dresses called manti. Men - wide shirts, decorated with many beads sewn on by their girlfriends, great needlewomen; skilfully crocheted snow-white napkins with the Maracaibo Sun pattern are the main souvenir of the lake.
A rare natural phenomenon takes place above Maracaibo, called the “Lighthouse of Catatumbo”. A lighthouse - because the light from the lightning that flashes at night over the confluence of this river into the lake is visible 400 km away. Lightning strikes in these places more than 160 days a year, 10 hours a day, about 300 times per hour. Catatumbo lightning is considered the largest natural ozone generator on Earth. And this phenomenon occurs when an atmospheric vortex from the warm air of the Caribbean Sea and cold air from the tops of the Andes mixes with methane gas rising from the swamps.
CURIOUS FACTS
■ The Yupa Indians believe that Catatumbo's lightning comes when fireflies collide with the souls of their ancestors.
■ Gaitassulianas is the name of the musical style of Venezuelan folk music, born on the banks of Maracaibo. These melodies incorporate elements of salsa and meringue. It is popular throughout Latin America and is performed most often during the Christmas holidays.
ATTRACTION
■ Rafael Urdanet Bridge (1962, length - 8769 m, maximum height - 45 m), named after the hero of the national liberation movement of Venezuela.
■ Maracaibo: Carabobo Street (colonial architecture), Palacio de Gobierno (Palace of Eagles - according to the figures of four condors on the roof), Maracaibo Cathedral (XVI-XVII centuries), Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Rosario Chiquinquira, or "La Chinita "(XIX century), the churches of Iglesia de Santa Barbara and Iglesia de Santa Lucia, the Baralt Theater (XIX century), the La Chinita memorial, the Los Bermudez art center, Vereda Park del Lago on the lake. Maracaibo, Botanical Garden, Historical Museum, Military History Museum.
■ Fort of the 17th century. on about. San Carlos.
■ Cienagas del Catatumbo National Park (Provisional UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Atlas. The whole world is in your hands #146
