ORINOQUÍA REGION: LOCATION, CHARACTERISTICS, CLIMATE, HYDROGRAPHY - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Orinoquía or Llanos Orientaleses region is one of the six natural regions of Colombia. It is located on the eastern side of Colombia and east of the eastern mountain range, and has an area of ​​about 253,000 square kilometers. Its constitution is approximately 75% savannas and 25% forests.

The departments that are part of this region are Arauca, whose capital city bears the same name; Meta, whose capital is the city of Villavicencio; Casanare, whose capital is Yopal; and Vichada, which has Puerto Carreño as its capital city.

Location and limits

The Orinoquía region is also called the Eastern Plains region, given that the place where it is located is characterized by being a wide plain. Its name also refers to the Orinoco River, whose basin covers a large part of this region.

This region corresponds to a plain, and is delimited by the Orinoco, Guaviare, Arauca rivers and by the llanero foothills, which corresponds to the limit between the three mountain ranges in Colombian territory and the Orinoquía region.

Main cities

Within this region are some of the main cities of the Colombian territory. Among those cities we can mention the municipalities Arauca, Villavicencio, Tame, Acacias, Granada, Puerto López, Yopal and Aguazul.

The Colombian department with the most population and which is located within the Orinoquía region is Meta, whose territorial extension is 85,635 square kilometers and is home to more than 960,000 inhabitants.

After Meta, Casanare stands out, which has a population of 325,389 inhabitants spread over 44,640 square kilometers of territory. The third place is occupied by the department of Arauca, which has a territorial extension of almost 24,000 square kilometers and is populated by around 260,000 inhabitants.

The least populated area of ​​the Orinoquía region is the department of Vichada, which has an approximate number of 71,974 inhabitants and a territory of almost 99,000 square kilometers. In total, it can be said that this region inhabits approximately more than one million six hundred thousand people.

Limits

The Orinoquía region of Colombia is delimited as follows:

-To the north and east it borders the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

-To the west it limits with the western mountain range.

-To the south it borders the Colombian Amazon region.

Characteristics of the Orinoquía region

Departments

The Orinoquía region is made up of the departments Arauca, Casanare, Meta, Vichada and the northern part of Guaviare. Some important cities are Villavicencio, capital of the Meta department and the "entrance" to the Colombian plains, Acacias, Villanueva, Yopal and Tame.

Villavicencio (Meta). CarlosE Duarte / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)

Flora and fauna

The fact that the region is covered by multiple streams contributes to the biodiversity of the area.

The gallery forests are the main vegetation sample in the region. These jungles are the ones that accompany the rivers on their journey.

The sabanero deer, the chigüiro, the cotudo monkey and the tiger are some of the mammalian species that characterize the fauna of the Orinoquía region. As for the reptiles, the anaconda, the Orinoco caiman and the four-nosed snake stand out.

Similarly, the area has more than 450 species of birds, most of which are aquatic. One of the most important bird species is the Orinoco goose (the only species of goose that can be found in Colombia).

See more about flora and fauna in this article.

Subregions

In the Orinoquía region, the following sub-regions can be found:

1. Plains foothills. Composed of the plains located to the east of the region, near the Andes.

1. Plains of Meta and Guaviare. Composed of the valleys that form these two rivers.

1. Serranía de la Macarena. Subregion famous for the homonymous national park.

1. Arauca swamps. As its name indicates, this area corresponds to the swamps that form on the banks of the Arauca River.

Economy

The region's economy is supported by cattle ranching and agriculture, thanks to the vast plains that cover the region.

Likewise, the Orinoquía region is one of the most important for the country due to its natural gas and oil reserves, located mainly in Arauca and Casanare.

See more about the economy in this article.

Problems in the region

Gas and oil reserves have contributed to the economic development of the region, in the same way, they have attracted the attention of government organizations, private industry and large foreign investors.

However, the exploitation of these reserves, together with climate change, has also caused significant damage to ecosystems.

Added to this, 51% of the population uses firewood stoves, which contributes to deforestation in the area.

Weather

The Orinoquía region is about 500 meters above sea level and has a climate that is more or less the same throughout the area.

In other words, this region is characterized by having a monomodal modality, which implies that it has only one rainy season, in this case between the months of April and November. Therefore, this region has a dry season that corresponds to the months of December to March.

In general, it can be said that the Orinoquía region of Colombia has a climate characterized by being continental, and towards the south of the territory it becomes a scene with elements typical of the humid tropical forest.

Rains

The figures associated with annual rainfall are approximately 2800 millimeters, being more abundant in the southern and southwestern areas, and more scarce in the north and northeast.

The greatest amount of rainfall is generated in the evening hours, since it is common in the South American region that there are more clouds in the afternoon, as a result of the warming that is generated in the area.

Unlike in the bulk of the Orinoquía region, the area near the foothills includes particular characteristics, given the peculiarities of the area.

So, in this space, the region shows a bimodal behavior, generating rainfall at two times of the year: in the months of April and May, and in the months of September and October.

Average temperature

Studies carried out in the area have determined that the average annual temperature is 27 ° C.

In July, at the time of greatest rainfall, values ​​have been recorded that reach a minimum figure of 3 ° C. During the day, at this time a minimum value of 10 ° C can be reached.

On the other hand, in the middle of the dry season the temperatures of the northern zone can register values ​​that are around 33 ° C.

Humidity

Depending on the area to be considered in the Orinoquía region, different values ​​will be found related to humidity.

For example, if the north zone is taken into account, a humidity that ranges from 60% to 80% can be found; the same happens when observing the central zone of the Orinoquía region.

On the other hand, in the southern area there is a humidity that varies between 75% and 90%. The above values ​​also apply to the western area of ​​the region. As can be seen, despite being changing figures, they are actually related to each other.

Climate zones

For a better understanding of the great diversity of peculiarities that the climate presents in the region, scholars have determined that there are three main climatic zones, with characteristics that distinguish them from each other. The main peculiarities of each of these areas are detailed below:

North Orinoquía

In this area, the dry season presents extensive subsidence of the sedimentary basin (subsidence). The temperatures are quite high and the sky is characterized by being widely clear.

As for the rainy season, this area is characterized by having pronounced warming during daylight hours.

South Orinoquía

This area presents a considerable increase in rainfall, which increases the humidity in general and the intensity of the rains.

This scenario is given as a consequence of the influence of the lower Amazon, the tropical interconvergence zone (ITCZ) and the little stability produced by the cold masses that come from the south.

Western corridor

The western corridor is characterized by practically bimodal behavior, generated as a consequence of the influence of the tropical Andean and continental interconvergence zones.

Sights

La Macarena Natural Park

Caño Cristales River. Mario Carvajal / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)

La Macarena Natural Park is located in the Meta department. This mountain range, which covers an area of ​​622,000 hectares, reached the status of a national park in 1971 and is currently an ecological reserve, since it is where the flora and fauna of three regions converge: the Amazon, the Andean and the Orinoquía.

In this park, there is the famous Caño Cristales river, also known as the river of the five colors or the liquid rainbow, due to a visual effect produced by the multicolored aquatic plants that inhabit it.

In it, you can find green algae and red and pink mosses, colors that add to the yellowishness of the sand and the blue of the sky reflected by the water.

However, this optical effect cannot be observed throughout the year; the river presents these iridescences from July to December, and is at its greatest splendor in the month of August. This stream is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

The Tuparro Natural Park

The Tuparro Natural Park is located in the Vichada department. In the park, there are the rivers Tomo (to the north), Tuparro, Tuparrito and Caño Maipures (to the south).

This area represents a sanctuary for birds, orchids, monkeys, snakes and freshwater dolphins. It receives its name from the Cerros Tuparros, rock formations that previously belonged to the Massif de Guayana, (the Tepuyes of Roraima, in Venezuela, were also part of this massif).

The biggest attraction in the park is the Raudal Maipures, especially during the dry season. Other attractive locations are Pozo Azul, Caño Lapa, Cerro Tomás, Cerro Peinillas. The flora and fauna of the park, and of the Orinoquía region, in general, are impressive.

Similarly, the rivers that cross the Tuparro Natural Park are ideal for fishing, especially from January to March.

Other attractions

Just as the beauty of the landscapes of the Orinoquía region represent an attraction, the traditions and festivities typical of the region attract the attention of tourists.

Various music festivals take place in the area, such as the National Song Festival, the International Festival of the Joropo (in Villavicencio), the Cimarrón de Oro (in Yopal), among others.

The folklore of the Orinoquía region is also striking. The music is characterized by the use of traditional instruments such as harps and cuatros, and is usually accompanied by the joropo dance.

Hydrography

The hydrography of the Orinoquía region shows a large number of rivers, which in total cover about 328,000 square kilometers.

The rivers that are part of this region are all those that have the Orinoco River as their slopes. The main bodies of water that make up the Orinoquía region will be described below:

Meta River

The Meta River has an area of ​​about 1,200 square kilometers. Of these 1,200 square kilometers, only 900 are characterized by being navigable. This is the main river in the region.

One of the most important aspects of the Meta River is that, thanks to its great extension, it allows the development of trade between Venezuela and this Colombian region.

Meta River at the height of the town of Sáliba.

This river is characterized by having small islands within its formation and it also has the peculiarity of being somewhat unstable. In relation to its shape, it has very large diameters at the beginning and end of the bifurcations.

The Meta River generally transports sediments efficiently, and in some points it may have a tendency to overflow, as a result of the fact that some of its areas are not well protected by vegetation, given the abundant logging activity that is generated in the zone.

Navigation on this river can be done quietly between the months of April and December. The starting point is located in Puerto López, and the navigable route ends in the Orinoco River, in Venezuelan territory.

Navigation on the Meta River during the summer months is difficult because only small-sized boats can do it.

Guaviare River

This river has its source in the eastern mountain range located in Colombia and its mouth occurs in the Orinoco River, at the height of the Colombian population of Amanavén, and that of San Fernando de Atabapo, located in Venezuela.

The length of this river is 1497 square kilometers, and of these only 630 square kilometers are considered navigable. The waters of this river have the characteristic of being brown in color and their direction goes from west to east.

The confluence of the Ariari and Guayabero rivers is responsible for the formation of this river; this union occurs at the level of the departments of Guaviare and Meta.

In relatively recent times a bridge was built that crosses the Guaviare River at the height of the capital of this department, called San José del Guaviare. Cargo ships especially pass through its waters, which are characterized by having a small draft.

Activity on the shore

On the banks of the Guaviare river, various characteristic elements of the region are cultivated; the most representative is cocoa. In addition, fishing is widely practiced in this area, since different marine species coexist, also emblematic of the area.

Another of the fundamental characteristics of the Guaviare River is that a good part of its route marks the delimitation between the Orinoquía and Amazon regions.

Many years ago this river was surrounded by wide and diverse tropical forests, as well as gallery forests. However, the exploitation of livestock in the area has contributed to these territories having changed, giving way rather to a largely flat area, with savanna characteristics.

Vichada River

The Vichada River originates from the union of the Tillavá and Planas rivers, located in the Puerto Gaitán municipality. Its birth occurs in the department of Meta.

Its route covers the entire department of Vichada until it reaches the Orinoco River, in an area near the Tuparro River; its movement is generated from west to east. With a length of 1,011 kilometers, its river basin covers about 26,000 square kilometers.

This river also naturally delimits the Amazon and Orinoquía regions, and the most prominent populations found on its banks are Santa Rita, Puerto Nariño and San José de Ocuné.

The main ecosystems that correspond to this river are the flooded gallery forest, the basal forest and the flooded savanna.

Risk activities

Currently, some activities are being generated that can be considered risky for this river.

Among the main risks that this important body of water runs for the region are activities related to oil and crops considered illegal by current legislation.

In addition, the highest part of the river is generating an expansion of agricultural activity, as well as various conflicts related to land tenure.

At the head of the basin, as well as in its westernmost zone, there are high levels associated with oil exploitation; This happens especially in the area near the Pedro Gaitán municipality.

Given the oil richness characteristic of the western area of ​​the Vichada river basin, the number of wells that have been drilled in the period that includes the last decade has increased considerably.

It is possible that these activities have a negative influence on the region, especially in the cultural sphere, since around this basin various native indigenous populations live that may be affected.

Recent studies have determined that there have not yet been critical negative consequences related to this extraction activity; However, the importance of being alert to the increase in this type of action has been considered.

Casanare River

Casanare River. Diego Alejandro Gutierrez Naranjo / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

The source of this river is generated in the eastern mountain range in Colombia, its origin is in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, in the western area of ​​the department of Arauca.

Part of its function is to naturally delimit the departments of Casanare and Arauca. The Casanare River is characterized by its flow in an eastern direction and ends up flowing into the Meta River, another of the most important bodies of water in the Orinoquía region of Colombia.

More information about the most important rivers in the Orinoquia region.

Relief

See main article: Relief of the Orinoquía region.

Culture

See main article: Culture of the Orinoquía region.

Custom

See main article: Customs of the Orinoquía region.

Gastronomy

See main article: Typical dishes of the Orinoquía region.

References

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4. Orinoquia Region. (sf). Retrieved on February 25, 2017, from colombia.co.
5. Originoquia or Llanos Region. (sf). Retrieved on February 24, 2017, from
6. Top three National Parks. (sf). Retrieved on February 24, 2017, from uncovercolombia.com.
7. Orinoquia region. (sf). Retrieved on February 24, 2017, from deunacolombia.com.
8. Ecosystem Accounts Planned for Stragic Orinoquia Region of Colombia. (sf). Retrieved on February 25, 2017, from wavespartnership.org.