The Essequibo Region and River

The Essequibo Region and River 

The first European discovery was by the ships of Juan de Esquivel, deputy of Don Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus. The Essequibo River is named after Esquivel. The first European settlement in Guyana was built by the Dutch along the lower part of the Essequibo in 1615. 

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 and Venezuela border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,010 km through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.

There are countless rapids and waterfalls Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro river along the route of the Essequibo, and its 20 km wide estuary is dotted with numerous small islands. It enters the Atlantic 21 km from Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. The river features Murrays Fall and Pot Falls, and the tourist attraction and resort lake main stay.