Section a

History of the demerara river

The Demerara River is a river in eastern Guyana that rises in the central rainforests
of the country and flows to the north for 346 kilometres until it reaches the Atlantic
Ocean. Georgetown, Guyana's largest seaport and capital, is situated on the east
bank of the river's mouth. The Demerara's estuary is narrow and the flowrate is
rapid. This scouring action maintains a 5-to-6-metre-deep direct channel to the
ocean. The river's deep brown color is primarily the result of the massive quantities
of silt carried from upriver by the powerful currents. So powerful are these currents,
that the ocean retains the Demerara's brown color for a considerable distance out
to sea.The Demerara's width and depth allow oceangoing vessels up to 5,000 t to
navigate up to Linden (105 km from the mouth), while smaller vessels may reach up
to Malali (245 km from the mouth). Beyond Malali, numerous rapids make further
upstream travel impossible. A floating bridge, the Demerara Harbour Bridge,
crosses the river 6 kilometres (4 mi) south of Georgetown from Peter's Hall, East
Bank Demerara to Schoon Ord, West Bank Demerara.
The islands Inver, Borselem, and Biesen are found 25 to 30 kilometres (15 to 20 mi)
from the mouth. Borselem was once the location of the Dutch capital of Demerara.
A Dutch colony of the same name was situated along the river's banks. The colony
founded the sugarcane industry that continues to thrive today. Sugar from this
industry is used to make the widely exported El Dorado Rum [1]. Bauxite is also
mined around the Demerara, and Linden is a major export centre.
Coordinates: 6.8121N 58.1701W

Section b
Tributaries of the Demerara River
Tributaries of the Demerara River include the Haiama River, Kuruabaru River,
Haiakwa Creek and Haianari Creek.
Haiama river- is a west bank tributary of the Demerara River in northern
Guyana. It enters the Demerara River 280 yards from the mouth.
Kuruabaru river-is an east bank tributary of the Demerara River in northern
Guyana. It enters the Demerara River 140 miles from its mouth.
Haiakwa Creek- is an east bank tributary of the Demerara River in northern
Guyana. It enters the Demerara River 27 miles upstream of Linden.
Haianari Creek- is a west bank tributary of the Demerara River in northern
Guyana. It enters the Demerara River 90 miles upstream of the Demerara's
mouth.