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31-456: It is served by Mékambo Airport . Mékambo has a tropical dry savanna climate ( Köppen climate classification As ). Iron ore deposits are found in the vicinity. 1°01′N 13°56′E  /  1.017°N 13.933°E  / 1.017; 13.933 This Gabon location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tropical savanna climate Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate

62-464: A tropical monsoon climate or have more pronounced dry season(s). It is impossible for a tropical savanna climate to have more than 2,500 mm (98 in) as such would result in a negative value in that equation. In tropical savanna climates, the dry season can become severe, and often drought conditions prevail during the course of the year. Tropical savanna climates often feature tree-studded grasslands due to its dryness, rather than thick jungle. It

93-534: Is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories Aw (for a dry "winter") and As (for a dry "summer"). The driest month has less than 60 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation and also less than 100 − ( Total Annual Precipitation (mm) 25 ) {\textstyle 100-\left({\frac {\text{Total Annual Precipitation (mm)}}{25}}\right)} mm of precipitation. This latter fact

124-588: Is also prevalent in sections of northern Australia , the Pacific Islands, in extreme southern North America in south Florida , and some islands in the Caribbean . Most places that have this climate are found at the outer margins of the tropical zone , but occasionally an inner-tropical location (e.g., San Marcos , Antioquia , Colombia ) also qualifies. Similarly, the Caribbean coast, eastward from

155-445: Is in a direct contrast to a tropical monsoon climate , whose driest month sees less than 60 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation but has more than 100 − ( Total Annual Precipitation (mm) 25 ) {\textstyle 100-\left({\frac {\text{Total Annual Precipitation (mm)}}{25}}\right)} of precipitation. In essence, a tropical savanna climate tends to either see less overall rainfall than

186-403: Is the case East Africa (Mombasa, Kenya, Somalia), Sri Lanka ( Trincomalee ) and coastal regions of Northeastern Brazil (from São Luís through Natal to Maceió ), for instance. The difference between "summer" and "winter" in such tropical locations is usually so slight that a distinction between an As and Aw climate is trivial. In most places that have tropical wet and dry climates, however,

217-560: Is this widespread occurrence of tall, coarse grass (called savanna) which has led to Aw and As climates often being referred to as the tropical savanna. However, there is some doubt whether tropical grasslands are climatically induced. Additionally, pure savannas, without trees, are the exception rather than the rule. There are generally four types of tropical savanna climates: Tropical savanna climates are most commonly found in Africa , Asia , Central America , and South America . The climate

248-428: Is used in place of Aw if the dry season occurs during the time of higher sun and longer days. This is typically due to a rain shadow effect that cuts off ITCZ-triggered summer precipitation in a tropical area while winter precipitation remains sufficient to preclude a hot semi-arid climate ( BSh ) and temperatures in the summer months are warm enough to preclude a Mediterranean climate ( Csa/Csb ) classification. This

279-930: The Gulf of Urabá on the Colombia – Panamá border to the Orinoco river delta , on the Atlantic Ocean (ca. 4,000 km (2,485 mi)), have long dry periods (the extreme is the BSh climate (see below), characterized by very low, unreliable precipitation, present, for instance, in extensive areas in the Guajira , and Coro, western Venezuela, the northernmost peninsulas in South America, which receive <300 mm (11.8 in) total annual precipitation, practically all in two or three months). This condition extends to

310-677: The Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles forming the Circumcaribbean dry belt. The length and severity of the dry season diminishes inland (southward); at the latitude of the Amazon river—which flows eastward, just south of the equatorial line—the climate is Af. East from the Andes, between the arid Caribbean and the ever-wet Amazon, are the Orinoco river Llanos or savannas , from where this climate takes its name. Sometimes As

341-715: The Llanos of Colombia. The environment and wildlife in the Orinoco's basin are extremely diverse. The river's name is derived from the Warao term for "a place to paddle", itself derived from the terms güiri (paddle) and noko (place) i.e. a navigable place. The mouth of the Orinoco River at the Atlantic Ocean was documented by Christopher Columbus on 1 August 1498, during his third voyage . Its source at

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372-613: The Orinoco oil belt , which may be a source of future oil production. Encompassing the states of Anzoategui - Guarico and Monagas states, the Interior Range forms the northern boundary and the Guayana Shield the southern boundary. Maturin forms the eastern subbasin and Guarico forms the western subbasin. The El Furrial oil field was discovered in 1978, producing from late Oligocene shallow marine sandstones in an overthrusted foreland basin . Since 1973,

403-571: The Orinoquia , covers ca 1 million km , with 65% of it in Venezuela and the 35% in Colombia . It is the fourth largest river in the world by discharge volume of water. The nevertheless high volume flow (39,000 m /s at delta ) of the Orinoco can be explained by the high precipitation in almost the entire catchment area (ca 2,300 mm/a). The Orinoco River and its tributaries are the major transportation system for eastern and interior Venezuela and

434-449: The giant otter inhabit the Orinoco River system. The Orinoco crocodile is one of the rarest reptiles in the world. Its range in the wild is restricted to the middle and lower Orinoco River Basin. More than 1000 fish species have been recorded in the river basin and about 15% are endemic . Among the fish in the river are species found in brackish or salt water in the Orinoco estuary , but also many restricted to fresh water. By far

465-670: The Amazon. He reported on the pink river dolphins and later published extensively on the river's flora and fauna. The sources of the Orinoco River, located at Cerro Carlos Delgado Chalbaud (2º19’05” N, 63º21’42” W), were discovered in 1951 by the French-Venezuelan expedition that went back and explored the Upper Orinoco course to the Sierra Parima near the border with Brazil, headed by Venezuelan army officer Frank Risquez Iribarren. The first bridge across

496-544: The Atures Rapids. In 1926, a Venezuelan mining inspector found one of the richest iron ore deposits near the Orinoco delta, south of the city of San Felix on a mountain named El Florero . Full-scale mining of the ore deposits began after World War II , by a conglomerate of Venezuelan firms and US steel companies. At the start in the early 1950s, about 10,000 tons of ore-bearing soil was mined per day. The Orinoco River deposits also contain extensive tar sands in

527-550: The Casiquiare includes both blackwater and clear- to whitewater sections, only relatively adaptable species are able to pass through it between the two river systems. The river is navigable for most of its length, and dredging enables ocean ships to go as far as Ciudad Bolívar , at the confluence of the Caroní River , 435 kilometres (270 mi) upstream. River steamers carry cargo as far as Puerto Ayacucho and

558-513: The Casiquiare to the Orinoco River they hovered thru perilous rapids of the rivers Maipures and Atures. The Orinoco was then traversed down to its mouths in the Gulf of Paria and then to Port of Spain. The primary purpose of the expedition was filming for the BBC series The World About Us episode "The Last Great Journey on Earth from Amazon to Orinoco by Hovercraft", which aired in 1970, and demonstrated

589-601: The Cerro Delgado–Chalbaud, in the Parima range , was not explored until 453 years later, in 1951. The source, near the Venezuelan– Brazilian border, at 1,047 metres (3,435 ft) above sea level ( 2°19′05″N 63°21′42″W  /  2.31806°N 63.36167°W  / 2.31806; -63.36167 ), was explored in 1951 by a joint French-Venezuelan expedition. The Orinoco, as well as its tributaries in

620-688: The Civil Association Nuestros Rios son Navegables organize the Internacional Rally Nuestros Rios son Navegables , a motonautical round trip of over 1,200 kilometers through the Orinoco, Meta and Apure Rivers. Starting out from Ciudad Bolívar or San Fernando de Apure, is the longest fluvial rally in the world with the participation of worldwide competitors, more than 30 support boats, logistics teams, thousands of tourists and fans travel. The boats had an average speed of 120 miles per hour. Since 1988,

651-608: The Orinoco River, the Angostura Bridge at Ciudad Bolívar , Venezuela, was completed in 1967. In 1968, an expedition was set off by The Geographical Journal and Hovercraft from Manaus ( Brazil ) to Port of Spain (Trinidad). Aboard a SR.N6 hovercraft, the expedition members followed the Negro river upstream to where it is joined by the Casiquiare canal , on the border between Colombia and Venezuela. After following

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682-749: The Orinoco River, the largest being the Caroní , which joins it at Puerto Ordaz , close to the Llovizna Falls. A peculiarity of the Orinoco river system is the Casiquiare canal , which starts as an arm of the Orinoco, and finds its way to the Rio Negro , a tributary of the Amazon , thus forming a 'natural canal' between Orinoco and Amazon. The stream gradient of the entire river is 0.05% (1,047 m over 2,250 km). Downstream of Raudales de Guaharibos

713-461: The abilities of a hovercraft, thereby promoting sales of this British invention. The first powerline crossing of the Orinoco River was completed in 1981 for an 800   kV   TL single span of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) using two towers 110 metres (360 ft) tall. In 1992, an overhead power line crossing for two 400   kV-circuits was completed just west of Morocure (between the cities of Ciudad Bolívar and Ciudad Guayana ), north of

744-581: The confluence of Routes   1 and 19. It had three towers, and the two spans measured 2,161 metres (7,090 ft) and 2,537 metres (8,323 ft), respectively. In 2006, a second bridge, known as the Orinoquia Bridge , was completed near Ciudad Guayana , Venezuela. The course of the Orinoco forms a wide ellipsoidal arc, surrounding the Guiana Shield ; it is divided in four stretches of unequal length that very roughly correspond to

775-654: The dry season occurs during the time of lower sun and shorter days because of reduction of or lack of convection , which in turn is due to the meridional shifts of the Intertropical Convergence Zone during the entire course of the year, based on which hemisphere the location sits. Orinoco The Orinoco ( Spanish pronunciation: [oɾiˈnoko] ) is one of the longest rivers in South America at 2,140 km (1,330 mi). Its drainage basin , sometimes known as

806-696: The eastern llanos such as the Apure and Meta , were explored in the 16th century by German expeditions under Ambrosius Ehinger and his successors. In 1531, starting at the principal outlet in the delta, the Boca de Navios, Diego de Ordaz sailed up the river to the Meta. Antonio de Berrio sailed down the Casanare to the Meta, and then down the Orinoco River and back to Coro . In 1595, after capturing de Berrio to obtain information while conducting an expedition to find

837-571: The fabled city of El Dorado , the Englishman Sir Walter Raleigh sailed down the river, reaching the savanna country . From April to May 1800, the Prussian-born Alexander von Humboldt and his companion, Aime Bonpland , explored stretches of the Orinoco, supported by indigenous helpers and guided by his interest to prove that South America's waterways formed an interconnected system from the Andes to

868-464: The gradient is 0.01% (183 /1,964), which is also the gradient from Ciudad Bolivar to the ocean (54/435). Average, minimum and maximum discharge at Ciudad Bolívar and Ciudad Guayana (Lower Orinoco): Monthly average discharge (m /s) at Ciudad Bolívar (2018 to 2023): Monthly average discharge (m /s) at Ciudad Guayana (1996 to 1998): Average discharge at Ciudad Bolívar (complete time series from 1926 to 2023): The boto and

899-407: The largest orders are Characiformes and Siluriformes , which together account for more than 80% of the fresh water species. Some of the more famous are the black spot piranha and the cardinal tetra . The latter species, which is important in the aquarium industry, is also found in the Rio Negro , revealing the connection between this river and the Orinoco through the Casiquiare canal . Because

930-498: The local government of Ciudad Guayana has conducted a swim race in the rivers Orinoco and Caroní , with up to 1,000 competitors. Since 1991, the Paso a Nado Internacional de los Rios Orinoco–Caroní has been celebrated every year, on a Sunday close to 19 April. Worldwide, this swim-meet has grown in importance, and it has a large number of competitors. The 26th meet was held in 2016. The Irish singer and songwriter Enya wrote and sang

961-433: The longitudinal zonation of a typical large river: At its mouth, the Orinoco River forms a wide delta that branches off into hundreds of rivers and waterways that flow through 41,000 km (16,000 sq mi) of swampy forests. In the rainy season, the Orinoco River can swell to a breadth of 22 kilometres (14 mi) and a depth of 100 metres (330 ft). Most of the important Venezuelan rivers are tributaries of

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