Cuyuni-Mazaruni encompasses extensive forested hinterland areas and smaller areas of rolling sandy and clay soil. Their relative sizes clearly distinguish the landscapes: the hinterland stretches across a vast area, while the rolling terrain makes up smaller parts. This is a useful perspective for planning your trip when weighing different nature and landscape themes. The region is not reduced to forest alone; the shape and composition of the soil are also part of its landscape.
A monument in Bartica
The Monument of Hope, a black marble monument, stands in Bartica. It was unveiled on December 13, 2010, in honour of ten men and two police officers who died during the attack on Bartica on February 17, 2008. The monument honours the victims of the attack and keeps their memory alive in Bartica. This adds a specific historical dimension to the landscape: a memorial with a clearly stated dedication and a date-specific background.
Guyana in a broader natural and cultural context
The wider destination of Guyana brings other protected areas and cultural points of reference into view. The Kanuku Mountains Protected Area and the Shell Beach Protected Area were designated after decades of preparatory work with local communities and other stakeholders. This lengthy preparation is part of the history of both protected areas and demonstrates the role of community collaboration in their designation. The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, commonly known as Iwokrama, is one of Guyana’s five protected areas.
Kanashen, Guyana’s southernmost Indigenous village, is in Guyana. It is located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region and borders Brazil. About 300 Wai-Wai people live there. Kanashen includes the mountains Wassarai, Yahore, Komoa and Kaiawakua, as well as extensive grasslands; the headwaters of the Essequibo River are also located there. Kanashen’s tropical forest covers about 648,000 hectares, around three percent of Guyana’s land area. Kanashen was added to Guyana’s National Protected Areas System in 2017 and is considered the largest and first Indigenous-owned protected area.
The figures for the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area also offer insight into Guyana’s landscapes: the protected area covers 611,000 hectares and has a perimeter of about 590 kilometres. It accounts for around four percent of Guyana’s total forest area. It consists of 99 percent forest and one percent savanna. These figures describe both its size and the composition of its landscape.
A cultural perspective adds another dimension to Kaieteur Falls: for the Patamona, the site is a significant spiritual place and an important symbol. In this broader context, Guyana reveals not only its landscapes but also the different cultural meanings of places.
Discover more destinations: Poterima, Potaro-Siparuni, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Demerara-Mahaica.
For the main travel overview: Guyana.
