Barima-Waini
| Barima-Waini | |
|---|---|
| Administrative Region | |
 Map of Guyana showing Barima-Waini region |
|
| Country | Guyana |
| Regional Capital | Mabaruma |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20,399 km2 (7,876 sq mi) |
| Population (2012 census) | |
| • Total | 26,941 |
| • Density | 1.3/km2 (3.4/sq mi) |
Barima-Waini (Region One) is an administrative region of Guyana, which is located in the northwest of the country. It covers an area of 20,339 km². It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the region of Pomeroon-Supenaam to the east, the region of Cuyuni-Mazaruni to the south and Venezuela to the west.
Prior to the 1980 administrative reform in Guyana, the Barima-Waini Region was known as the 'North West district'.
Mabaruma became the administrative centre when it was decided that the former centre, Morawhanna, was too susceptible to flooding. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, serious consideration was once given to moving the capital of Guyana to this area.
The region is named after two rivers that flow through the region; the Barima River and the Waini River.
Barima-Waini is a heavily forested region. The Atlantic coastal strip of Region One features a number of beaches, including, from west to east, Almond Beach, Luri Beach, Shell Beach, Turtle Beach, Foxes Beach, Iron-punt Beach, Pawpaw Beach and Father's Beach. Marine turtles nest on some of these beaches. There are also a number of Amerindian communities in this area, including Santa Rosa Mission.
The main economic activities in the Barima-Waini region are forestry and gold mining. The northern and northeastern sections include thousands of acres of rich alluvial soil, of which its main crops include coffee, ground provisions (such as cassava, eddoes and yams), cabbage, beans, corn, peanuts, and citrus fruits. (This is the area which supplies the famous Pomeroon casareep).
The Matthews Ridge-Port Kaituma manganese industry was discontinued when falling world prices made it uneconomical to continue.
Major settlements include Mabaruma (the regional capital), Port Kaituma, Matthew's Ridge, Morawhanna, Towakaima, Koriabo, Hosororo, Arakaka and Moruca.
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Wikipedia