- Los Llanos redirect here, for the Chilean region see: Los Llanos, Chile
Los llanos (meaning the flat plains) is a vast tropical grassland plain situated at the east of the Andes in northwestern South America (Colombia and Venezuela). Its main river is the Orinoco, which forms part of the border between Colombia and Venezuela and is the major river system of Venezuela. [1]
The climate change of the Llanos is extreme. During the rainy season from May to October, parts of the Llanos can flood up to a meter. This turns the forests and grassland to be turned into a temporary wetland. This flooding also makes the area unique for its wildlife. The area supports around 70 species of water birds, including 90% of the endangered species, the Scarlet Ibis. [1]
This event also makes the area unfit for most agriculture before the advent of modern, industrial technology; therefore, during the colonial era, the prime economic activity of the area came from the herding of millions of heads of cattle. The term llanero ("plainsman") became synonymous with the cowhands that took care of the herds, and had some cultural similarities to the compare to the gauchos of the Pampas or the vaqueros of Spanish and Mexican Texas.
The area slopes gradually away from the highland areas that surround it; elevation above sea level in the llanos area never exceeds 200 meters.
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Cities situated in Los Llanos
In Colombia
- Villavicencio
- Puerto López
- Arauca
- Tame
- Saravena
- Yopal
- Puerto Carreño
- Inirida
- Mitú
- San José del Guaviare
- Gaviotas
In Venezuela
- San Fernando de Apure
- Barinas
- San Carlos
- Calabozo
- El Tigre
- Caripito
- Araure
- Guanare
- Acarigua
- Puerto Ayacucho
- Maturín
- Sabaneta
- Valle de la Pascua
- Tucupita
See also
References
- ^ a b (in English) Earth. Doring Kindersly. 2003. pp. 328. ISBN 1-4053-0018-3.
External links
- (English) Visiting Los Llanos in Venezuela
- (Spanish) Los Llanos de Colombia
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