Kaituma River

Kaituma River
Location
Country	Guyana
Physical characteristics
Mouth	Barima River
• coordinates	8°11′N 59°41′W
Basin features
Inland ports	Port Kaituma

The Kaituma River is a river of Guyana in the Barima-Waini region. The mouth is at the upper Barima River, and the area is made up of mostly mangrove swamps.[1]

The Kaituma and Barima Rivers were dredged to make enough room for ships to collect ore from the mines in the vicinity of Port Kaituma.[2] It was a hiding place for escapees of the People's Temple massacre due to its proximity to the Jonestown settlement.[3][4]

Environmental concerns

Testing done by Guyana Water Inc. and the EPA found high rates of mercury in the river that has been linked to mining in the area.[5][6] Residents of Port Kaituma and other villages have to obtain water from other sources, such as wells or delivered from outside the area because piped water is pumped from the river.[7]

An indigenous practice of stunning fish by using 'canami' also impacts water quality.[7]

See also

• List of rivers of Guyana

References

1. Schomburgk, R. H. (1842). "Excursion up the Barima and Cuyuni Rivers, in British Guiana, in 1841". The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. 12: 178–196. doi:10.2307/1797996. ISSN 0266-6235.
2. "Map of Guyana – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". Retrieved 2021-01-28.
3. "Reporter's 1978 account of deadly ambush, Jonestown tragedy". AP NEWS. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
4. "Reporter's Dispatch After Jonestown Mass Murders, Suicides | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
5. "Mercury level in Port Kaituma River may have affected some aquatic species". Kaieteur News. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
6. "Mercury and the Kaituma River". Stabroek News. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
7. "Fishing practices seen behind Port Kaituma water problems". Stabroek News. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2021-01-28.

Bibliography

• Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.

8°11′N 59°41′W