August 15, 2006—Flowing from high mountains into rain forests and grassy plains, the Orinoco River is a source of life- giving liquid for a wide swath of Venezuela.

Today mining, oil-drilling, and commercial shipping industries are taking root along the river's path. But the region remains a wild place where remote tribes make their homes inside habitat fit for crocodiles, anacondas, and capybaras.

Take a trip down the Orinoco, and get an inside look at the diversity of life sustained by this vital and vibrant river.