Mazaruni River - Course

Course

The Mazaruni River drops down from each Roraima plateau through three steep sided canyons with many picturesque sets of falls. The first set is Chai-chai Falls. The next is near village of Imbaimadai and the last set is below the village of Kamarang where the Mazaruni River tumbles through last few major falls, the first of which is a few kilometres long gutter known as Chitigokein Falls, which finishes in Coffy pool, a deep pool named after Mehir “Cousin Body” Coffy, one of the last "Porknockers" (these are small diamond and gold miners) of Guyana.The term "Porknockers" comes from the old prospectors having to carry in all their food one of which was salt pork which attracted flies and had to be knocked regularly to keep flies away. According to legend, during the 1950s, Coffy was diving in the river for diamonds when he got the bends, due to overstaying below and rapid decompression.

After few kilometres of relatively calm water, the last set of great Mazaruni River Falls begin. The first falls is the Aruwai Falls and the last is the Peaima Falls.

Soon after Peaima Falls, the river, which was flowing north-south, turns east-south-east. It passes the Issineru River mouth on the left bank, with the Amerindian village, Issineru, on the other bank. Then, over the lowlands of greenstones of Precambrian Guiana Shield, the Meamu River, Kurupung River and Eping River join the Mazaruni River. Together, these rivers serve to drain the highlands of the Merume Mountains.

Next, the Mazaruni River flows past Oranapai Rapids, Kamakusa Landing, the mouth of Merume River, Banana Landing, Tiboku Rapids, the mouth of Equeribisi River, Issano Landing, the mouth of the Puruni River, Kaburi rapids, Marshal Falls, the last set of rapids, Itabali Landing, the mouth of the Cuyuni River, then, near the village of Bartica, finishes into the Essequibo River, the largest river of Guyana.