Potaro Landing is one of the main communities in Guyana’s Potaro-Siparuni Region, and consists mainly of forested highland with some areas of hilly sand and clay. The main tourist attraction in the region in the Potaro River, which runs for some 225 km before flowing into the Essequibo, the largest river in Guyana. Nine waterfalls can be found along the Potaro, the most notable of which is the Kaieteur Falls.
The Kaieteur Falls is well-known for its total height of 251 meters and average water volume of 663 cu. m. per second, which makes it one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. While it is by no means the highest waterfall in the world, it is actually higher than some better-known waterfalls such as the Niagara Falls (five times higher) and Victoria Falls (twice as high). Located within the Kaieteur National Park, the Falls have become a major draw for eco-tourism in Guyana. The Park was established, in part, to preserve the Kaieteur Falls and the area’s other natural attractions. Other popular waterfalls along the Potaro are the Orinduik Falls and Tumatumari Falls.
Another popular spot for eco-tourism is the Iwokrama Forest and the Rapununi Wetlands. The two jointly encompass a wide range of habitats, including lowland tropical rain forests, palm forests, mountains and volcanic dykes. The area is also home to over 90 species of bats, 400 species of fish and over 475 species of birds. The indigenous Makushi people also continue to call the area home as they still use the wetland and forest resources to sustain their way of life.