Savanna of Rupununi

The savanna of Rupununi is a grassy plain of approximately 15.000km ² which extends to South-west from the South American State from the Guyana to the border with Brazil. Extending in the basin from the river Rupununi this savanna is in continuity with those which extend to the Venezuela (Gran sabana) and in the Brazilian State of the Roraima. Normally located in the catchment area of the river Essequibo which throws in the Caribbean Sea water of savanna come into contact with those of the basin of the the Amazon very close at the time of the rains to the wet season. This zone is isolated from the Guianese coast by vast tropical forests, it thus experienced a different development.

History

Populated at the origin of Amerindians Macuxi and Wapishana this area explored and charted in particular by Robert Hermann Schomburgk in the years 1840 returned to English after an arbitration pronounced in 1904 between the Brésil and the the United Kingdom granted this country all the grounds extending to the river Takutu.

Starting from the beginning of the 20th century savanna was colonized by some families of Scottish origin which cut great properties introduced the bovine breeding, granting vast grounds. Shortly after the independence of 1969 the Insurrection of Rupununi burst opposing the land great landowners of Rupununi and their Amerindian employees who proclaimed the republic of Rupununi, to the Guianese central capacity. This revolt was subdued by the army and the majority of the great landowners had to take refuge in Brazil and Venezuela.

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