Orinoco

American  

[awr-uh-noh-koh, ohr-, aw-ree-naw-kaw] / ˌɔr əˈnoʊ koʊ, ˌoʊr-, ˌɔ riˈnɔ kɔ /

noun

1. a river in N South America, flowing N from the border of Brazil, along the E border of Colombia, and NE through Venezuela to the Atlantic. 1,600 miles (2,575 km) long.

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Orinoco British  

/ ˌɒrɪˈnəʊkəʊ /

noun

1. a river in N South America, rising in S Venezuela and flowing west, then north as part of the border between Colombia and Venezuela, then east to the Atlantic by a great delta: the third largest river system in South America, draining an area of 945 000 sq km (365 000 sq miles); reaches a width of 22 km (14 miles) during the rainy season. Length: about 2575 km (1600 miles)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Orinoco

In early 2008, Chávez presented his Sunday television programme, Aló Presidente, from former ExxonMobil oilfields in the Orinoco River Belt.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Rystad Energy expects Venezuela’s near-term recovery to be led by redevelopment of existing fields, with major new Orinoco production becoming meaningful only from around 2035.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

“The issue is these Orinoco Belt heavy oil projects are like deep water developments. They are capital intensive and require long-term planning, and an ability to hold your breath for a while.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Rod Lewis, founder and CEO of privately-held Lewis Energy, told Barron’s he is interested in developing a block in Venezuela’s Orinoco belt but has concerns about government reforms for the industry and transparency.

From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026

Battered by European diseases and slave raiding, many fled to the Orinoco, becoming wandering foragers.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann