Mazaruni River

Mazaruni River
This is another must see when you visit the beautiful land of many waters, Guyana.
The Mazaruni River is a river in northern Guyana, running from its source in the remote western forests of the Pakaraima Mountains to its confluence with the Cuyuni River near the mining town of Bartica.
As it descends from the Guiana Highlands the river runs south-east, past Issano, then northward to Bartica.
The river is a source of the precious metal gold.
The Roraima Plateau is also the source of the Mazaruni river.
The Mazaruni River takes source in the Roraima Plateau, three levels of sandstones and conglomerates, crowned by Mt. Roraima (2810 m.).
In Guyana, the two highest levels of the Roraima Plateau are known as Pakaraima Mountains and Merume Mountains.
The source of the Mazarunu River is in the Merume Mountains. The area is one of the very few places in the world still inaccessible.
In 1992, a joint expedition of the Guyana Defence Force and Welsh Guards members was unable to reach the source of the Mazaruni River, even with training, finances and equipment.
The Mazaruni River drops down from each Roraima plateau through three steep sided canyons with many picturesque sets of falls.
The first set is Chai-chai Falls.
The next is near the village of Imbaimadai and the last set is below the village of Kamarang where the Mazaruni River tumbles through last few major falls. The first of which is a few kilometres long gutter known as Chitigokein Falls.
Chitigokein Falls finishes in Coffy pool, a deep pool named after Mehir “Cousin Body” Coffy, one of the last "Porknockers" (these are small diamond and gold miners) of Guyana.
Next, the Mazaruni River flows past Oranapai Rapids, Kamakusa Landing, the mouth of Merume River, Banana Landing, Tiboku Rapids, the mouth of Equeribisi River, Issano Landing, the mouth of the Puruni River, Kaburi rapids, Marshal Falls, the last set of rapids, Itabali Landing, the mouth of the Cuyuni River, then, near the village of Bartica, finishes into the Essequibo River, the largest river of Guyana.
Flora
The Mazaruni River flows over three distinct habitats; the flat tops of Roraima Plateau, known in Venezuela as “tepuis”, the lower two plateaus and the low lands. Each habitat is characterized by its own vegetation.
The upper one is a fantastic land of rain swept sandstone eroded into fantastic forms with exotic plants trying to survive this inhospitable land of denuded rocks. The middle one is mainly savannas with bands of single canopy jungle, the lowest is a triple canopy jungle. Exotic orchids are found in last two habitats.
Fauna
The iron hydroxide stained brown waters of Mazaruni are home to many fish. The most abundant are the large and dangerous black electric eels (numfish), piry (relative of piranha cutleback), haimara, and baiara.
However, the most famous fish is lau-lau, with specimens weighing up to 200 kg. Lau-lau lives in deep pools of Mazaruni River hunting in the night.
Mazaruni River waters are also home to a largest water snake, anaconda, locally known as water kamudi, large herds of wild pigs, peccaries, sometimes as large as a few hundred, live on swampy flat of Mazaruni River. They are very dangerous since they are known to attack humans.
The only escape is up the large tree. Pumas and the much smaller ocelot are also found there but rarely seen since they hunt at night.
Many monkeys, of which the howling monkey is the noisiest, inhabit tree tops, sharing the space with many types of birds. Pairs of Red, yellow or bleu Macaws, united for life, often can be seen to fly by.