Kassikaityu River

Last updated
Kassikaityu River
Guyana physical map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location
Country Guyana
Physical characteristics
Mouth  
  location
Essequibo River
  coordinates
1°50′49″N59°11′45″E / 1.8469°N 59.1957°E / 1.8469; 59.1957 [1]

The Kassikaityu River is a tributary of the Essequibo River of Guyana.

Contents

There are a few different theories on the name of the river, one is that it is named for a local variety of catfish, called kassi. Also, according to Barrington Brown (the first European to record Kaieteur Falls) it is an Amerindian name meaning 'river of death' and more specifically, Robert Hermann Schomburgk said the name is a corruption of the Taruma name casi-kityu meaning 'dead river'. [2]

Description

The Kassikaityu River is one of the larger tributaries of the Essequibo and about 30 m (98 ft) wide near its mouth and about 15 m (49 ft) at the confluence between the South and West Kassikaityu Rivers 95 km (59 mi) from the mouth. For the lowest 12 km (7.5 mi), the river winds over a wide floodplain, and is regularly navigated by the Wai Wai to reach the trail to Karaudanawa. The Wailturan Rapids are 34 km (21 mi) above the mouth. The South and West Kassikaityu Rivers were penetrated with extensive cutting to points respectively 32 and 38 km (20 and 24 mi) from their confluence. [2]

The water level of the Kassikaityu falls to its lowest annual levels between the end of the minor rainy period in January and the beginning of the main rainy season at the end of March. [2] Water levels vary from a minimum 225.62 m (740.2 ft) to maximum 235.23 m (771.8 ft) (average 228.36 m [749.2 ft]) [3] During dry seasons the low water level can make travel difficult because there are more rapids. [2]

History

The river and surrounding areas were once inhabited by the Taruma people, who came to the area in the early 18th century, but were wiped out from influenza. Subsequently, the Kassikaityu area is referred to by the Wai-wais as the ‘River of the Dead.’ [4]

In 1934, the British Guiana-Brazil Boundary Commission was set up to survey the boundary reached the upper Essequibo, until the team was impacted by beri-beri and were medically evacuated from the area, one who died was buried on the right bank of the Kassikaityu River. The commission's work recommenced in 1935 and the British contingent was led by the Army's Royal Engineers. [5]

In 2014, plans were made to construct a tractor trail from Parabara to the Kassikaityu River landing for the benefit of Wai-Wai people to connect to the Rupununi. [6] The distance was surveyed in 2010, as well as a medical mission for the remote Wai Wai who live in the deep south of Guyana. [7]

Settlements

Kanashen, a community-protected area of the Wai-Wai people is accessible by the Kassikaityu. It is one of the most remote areas of Guyana, and in addition to practicing traditional ways of life, engage in sustainable tourism. Canoeing the Kassikaityu is a promoted activity. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branco River</span> River in Brazil

The Branco River is the principal affluent of the Rio Negro from the north.

The transport sector comprises the physical infrastructure, docks and vehicle, terminals, fleets, ancillary equipment and service delivery of all the various modes of transport operating in Guyana. The transport services, transport agencies providing these services, the organizations and people who plan, build, maintain, and operate the system, and the policies that mold its development.

The Geography of Guyana comprises the physical characteristics of the country in Northern South America and part of Caribbean South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela, with a land area of approximately 214,969 square km. The country is situated between 1 and 9 north latitude and between 56 and 62 west longitude. With a 459 km (285 mi)-long Atlantic coastline on the northeast, Guyana is bounded by Venezuela on the west, Brazil on the west and south, and Suriname on the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essequibo River</span> Major river in Guyana

The Essequibo River is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil–Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,014 km (630 mi) through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean. It has a total drainage basin of 156,828 km2 (60,552 sq mi) and an average discharge of 5,650 m3/s (200,000 cu ft/s).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demerara River</span> River in Guyana

The Demerara River is a river in eastern Guyana that rises in the central rainforests of the country and flows to the north for 346 kilometres until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Georgetown, Guyana's largest seaport and capital, is situated on the east bank of the river's mouth. The river divides Essequibo Islands-West Demerara on the west bank from Demerara-Mahaica to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuyuní River</span> River in Venezuela and Guyana

The Cuyuni River is a South American river and a tributary of the Essequibo River. It rises in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela, where it descends northward to El Dorado, and turns eastward to meander through the tropical rain forests of the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region of Guyana. It finally turns southeastward, flowing to its confluence with the Mazaruni River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazaruni River</span> River in Guyana

The Mazaruni River is a tributary of the Essequibo River in northern Guyana. Its source is in the remote western forests of the Pakaraima Mountains and its confluence with the Cuyuni River is near 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 alluvial gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potaro River</span> River in Guyana

The Potaro River is a river in Guyana that runs from Mount Ayanganna area of the Pakaraima Mountains for approximately 255 km (158 mi) before flowing into the Essequibo River, Guyana's largest river. The renowned Kaieteur Falls is on the Potaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wai-wai people</span>

The Wai-wai are a Carib-speaking Indigenous people of Guyana and northern Brazil. Their society consists of different lowland forest peoples who have maintained much of their cultural identity with the exception of Christianity which was introduced to them in the late 1950s.

Apoteri is a village in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana, near the confluence of the Rupununi River with the Essequibo, at an altitude of 53 metres. Apoteri started to develop as the centre of the balatá industry. The population is mainly Amerindian of the Macushi and Wapishana people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takutu River</span> River in Brazil, Guyana

The Takutu River is a river in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana and Roraima in Brazil. It forms part of the boundary between the two countries. The confluence of the Takutu and Uraricoera Rivers forms the Branco River. The Takutu River's sources almost link with those of the Essequibo River; in the rainy season, flooding links the Takutu to the Rupununi River, a tributary of the Essequibo.

The Siparuni River is a river in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana. It is a tributary of the Essequibo River. Tributaries of the Siparuni River include the Takutu River, Burro-Burro River, Tipuru River and Levai Creek.

Adventure is a village located in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of Guyana, on the Atlantic coast, at sea level, one mile south of Onderneeming.

Aishalton is an Amerindian village that is situated in the Rupununi savannah of southern Guyana, in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guyana</span> Caribbean country in South America

Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic mainland British West Indies. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". Georgetown is the capital of Guyana with the largest population. Guyana is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brazil to the south and southwest, Venezuela to the west, and Suriname to the east. With a land area of 214,969 km2 (83,000 sq mi), Guyana is the third-smallest sovereign state by area in mainland South America after Uruguay and Suriname, and is the second-least populous sovereign state in South America after Suriname; it is also one of the least densely populated countries on Earth. It has a wide variety of natural habitats and very high biodiversity. The country also hosts one part of the Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the world.

The Kwitaro River is a tributary of the Rupununi River in Guyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mainstay Lake</span>

Mainstay Lake is a lake in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of Guyana, near the Atlantic coast, northwest of the mouth of the Essequibo River, 12 mi (19 km) north of Adventure. There is a 0.5 mi (0.80 km) stretch of white sand at the edge of the lake.

The Kanashen Community Owned Conservation (COCA) is Guyana's first community-owned area that is legally protected; it is primarily inhabited by the Wai-Wai indigenous group.

Maruranau is an indigenous village of Wapishana Amerindians in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. It is located in the Rupununi savannah near the Kwitaro River on the edge of the Kanuku Mountains. A minority of Taruma also inhabit the village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taruma people</span> Indigenous people of Brazil, Guyana and Suriname

The Taruma are an indigenous people found in the northern Brazil, southern Guyana, and southern Suriname. They used to speak Taruma which is considered critically endangered. The Taruma in Suriname have merged with the Tiriyó, in Brazil they merged with the Wai-wai. The Wapishana village of Maruranau in Guyana still recognises the tribe.

References

  1. "Kassikaityu, River | General Info | Database for Hydrological Time Series of Inland Waters (DAHITI)".
  2. 1 2 3 4 Berrangé, Jevan P.; Johnson, Richard L. (1972). "A Guide to the Upper Essequibo River, Guyana". The Geographical Journal. 138 (1): 41–52. doi:10.2307/1797438. ISSN   0016-7398. JSTOR   1797438.
  3. "Kassikaityu, River | General Info | Database for Hydrological Time Series of Inland Waters (DAHITI)". dahiti.dgfi.tum.de. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  4. "The lost nations of Guyana". Stabroek News. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  5. "Cecil Carl Cunha". Stabroek News. 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  6. "For Masakenari's Wai-Wais, new trail seen as key to preserving way of life". Stabroek News. 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  7. "Expedition to survey 25-mile trail for Wai Wai". Stabroek News. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  8. "Welcome to Konashen Community-Owned Conservation Area". guyanatourism.org. Retrieved 2021-01-18.

1°50′N58°33′W / 1.833°N 58.550°W / 1.833; -58.550