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 he story of the Orinoco's people began thousands of years ago with the arrival of the first native Venezuelans. That history continued with the entrance of the Orinoco on the stage of Western history, through increased population and commerce during colonial times, and the development of large industrial centers starting in the mid-20th century.
Well into the 20th century, the Orinoco was the great force which brought Venezuela together, and a mirror in which the country could understand itself. Before Venezuela's sudden transformation into an oil nation, the river was the main transportation route for commerce. At that time, the markets of indigenous people flowed more freely along the waters of the river, sometimes preserving past traditions and sometimes connecting to change. In this way the Orinoco shaped the Venezuelan nation.
The inhabitants of the Orinoco represent a broad cultural diversity. In the Orinoco river basin, 23 indigenous ethnic groups coexist. This dense concentration of cultures presents many different ways to understand and interpret the world.
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Online resources
Virtual tour: Inhabitants
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