858 
BASIN OF THE LOWER ORINOCO. 
w ^ O';* the north-west extremi-ly of the basin of 
the West Indies, that the secondary formations clip towards 
o.lii. ; aloTi" the coast ot Venezuela, rocks of ^neiss and primi- 
tive mica-siato clip to north-west. The basalts, amygdaloids, 
and tradiytes, whieli are often surmounted by tertiary lime- 
stones, appear only towards the eastern and western bank.s. 
III.^The basin of the Lower Orinoco, or the 
Plains of Venezuela,— This basin, like the plains of Lom- 
bardv, is open to the east. Its limits are the littoral chain 
ot Venezuela on the north, the eastern Cordillera of New 
Grenada on the west, and the Sierra Parime on the south i 
but as the latter group extends on the west onlv to the 
merichan of the cataracts of Maypures (long. 70° 37'1 there 
ZZTl «*■ land-strait, running from north to 
” * Llanos of Venezuela communicate with 
Lie basin of the Amazon and the Eio Negro. We must 
distinguish between the basin of the Lower Orinoco, pro- 
peily so ealled (north of that river and the Eio Apure), and 
tlie plains of Meta and Guaviare. The latter oceuiw the 
space between the mountains of Parime and New Gre- 
l **'* opposite direc- 
tion, but being alike covered with grainina, they are usually 
comprehended in the country under the same draominatioZ 
1 hose Llanos extend, m the form of an arch, from the mouth 
of tho^r^T’ ^'***.\*'*’*f***>o de Apure, to the confluence 
ot the Eio Cagiiau with the.Tupura, consequently alono- a 
length of more tlian 360 leagues. ^ “ 
^ yenezuela runninq from east to- 
«-c.^;.-The general slope is eastward, and the mean height 
tiom 40 to oO toises. The western bank of that great sea 
of verdure (mar de yerbas) is formed by a group of moun- 
Uins, several ot which equal or exceed in height the Peak of 
Tenerifie and Mont Blanc. Of this number are the Paramos 
del Almorzadero, Cacota, Laura, Porquera, Mucuchies, 
Tnnotes, and Las Eosas. The height ot^he northern and 
southern banks is generally less than 500 or 600 toises It 
IS somewhat extraordinary that Lie maximum of the depres- 
Sion of the basin is not in its centre, but on its southern 
Jimit, at the bierra Parime. It is only between tiie meridians 
