The Manzanares River has a historical relationship with the city of Cumaná, for its important ecological, cultural and economic role.  As it is used to supply drinking water to a large part of the oriental region of Venezuela, it was the main reason why spaniards first settled in Cumaná back in 1515, in order to suply water and goods to Nueva Cadiz, With it 80 km of lengh, it passes through the metropolitan area of Cumaná, discharging to the north and east of the city into the Caribbean Sea at the entrance of the Golf of Cariaco, another great body of water with the perks of saltwater.

The river has been in the colective mind of the population either for good or bad reasons. When Alexander von Humboldt started traveling the Americas in 1799 he described the river as a social place where all types of locals would swin in, havinf "very clear clear waters and fortunately, looking nothing like the Manzanares in Madrid". The river had always inspired poets and songwritters, as it's known song by the same name of the river.

(Postcard, 1955)

Environmental Problems

But like most of the world's rivers that cross populated centers, the Manzanares water is affected by the different human activities that take place in its proximity: urban, industrial, agricultural developments, and all the environmental consequences that each of them entails. At times when local industries discharge significant amounts of organic material, acids and caustic substances into the river, the mass of water undergoes changes in both its composition and its appearance, surpassing Venezuelan legal limits for water intended for human consumption as well as for waters to be discharged in coastal areas.

It is important and necessary for the public and private sector to take action to ensure the cleaning and protection of our natural spaces. If corrective action is not taken they may grow even more impacting life on the city as well as the ecosystem.