Llanos
Vast tropical grassland plain east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela.
The Llanos (Spanish Los Llanos, "The Plains") is a vast tropical grassland plain situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela, in northwestern South America. It is an ecoregion of the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. The Llanos occupy a lowland that extends mostly east and west, bounded on the west and northwest by the Andes, on the north by the Venezuelan Coastal Range, on the southeast by the Guiana Highlands, and on the southwest by the Negro-Branco moist forests.
- location
- Colombia and Venezuela, northwestern South America
- climate
- Tropical savanna, grading to tropical monsoon in Colombian Llanos
- mean_temperature
- 27 °C (80.6 °F)
- rainfall_range
- 800 to 3,000 mm per year
- major_river
- Orinoco
- primary_economic_activity
- Cattle herding since Spanish colonial era; oil and gas industry
Lore & Background
The Llanos have a tropical savanna climate with a rainy season from April to November and a dry season from December to March. Rainfall varies across the ecoregion, from up to 3,000 mm per year in the southwest to 800 mm in the northeast. Mean annual temperature is 27 °C, with little variation throughout the year. The plant communities include open grasslands, savanna with scattered trees, and gallery forests along rivers. Seasonally flooded grasslands (llano bajo) and dry grasslands (llano alto) are distinguished, with llano alto covering approximately two-thirds of the Venezuelan llanos. The primary economic activity since the Spanish colonial era is the herding of millions of cattle, and the term llanero became synonymous with the cowhands who took care of the herds.
Reader's Guide
The Llanos ecoregion is significant for its biodiversity and as a major cattle-herding region since the Spanish colonial era. It supports around 70 species of water birds, including the scarlet ibis, and large mammals such as jaguars, capybaras, and giant anteaters. The Orinoco River is the main river system, and the Orinoco Belt contains large deposits of extra heavy crude oil. Decades of extensive cattle raising have altered the ecology, with frequent burning and introduction of non-native grasses. Protected areas cover 28% of the ecoregion, including Aguaro-Guariquito National Park and El Tuparro National Natural Park. Indigenous peoples include the Guahibo in the western Llanos and the Yaruro in the eastern Llanos.
Did You Know?
- The Llanos are bounded by the Andes, Venezuelan Coastal Range, Guiana Highlands, and Negro-Branco moist forests.
- The Orinoco River runs from west to east through the ecoregion and forms part of the Colombia–Venezuela border.
- Some of the largest jaguars in the world are found in the Llanos, with average weights of over 100 kg for males.
- The Llanos long-nosed armadillo and the short-tailed opossum Monodelphis orinoci are endemic to the Llanos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Llanos and where are they located?
The Llanos is a vast tropical grassland plain stretching across eastern Colombia and western Venezuela in northwestern South America. It sits in a lowland area east of the Andes and is classified as an ecoregion within the tropical grasslands and savannas biome.
What is the climate like in the Llanos?
The region experiences a tropical savanna climate, with the Colombian portion grading into a tropical monsoon pattern. Mean temperatures hover around 27 °C (80.6 °F), and annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 3,000 mm depending on the area.
Which major river flows through the Llanos?
The Orinoco River is the principal waterway threading through this plain. It serves as the defining hydrological feature of the entire ecoregion.
What is the main economic activity in the Llanos?
Cattle herding has been the dominant livelihood in the region since the Spanish colonial era. More recently, the oil and gas industry has also become a significant economic driver in the area.
What geographic features form the boundaries of the Llanos?
The Andes border the plain to the west and northwest, while the Venezuelan Coastal Range lies to the north. The Guiana Highlands mark the southeastern edge and the Negro-Branco moist forests define the southwestern limit.
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