Demerara River, Major river system in eastern Guyana.
The Demerara River is a river in Guyana that runs northward from the central rainforests of the country before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Its water has a naturally brown color caused by the sediment it carries along its course.
The river gave its name to the former colony of Demerara, which became one of the main sugar-producing areas of the Caribbean region. Over the centuries, the river shaped where people settled, with the first communities forming along its banks.
The name Demerara comes from an Arawak word referring to the letterwood trees that once lined its banks, and this origin still gives the river a distinct identity. Along its banks, small communities organize their daily routines around the water, using boats the way others use roads.
The lower part of the river is open to larger vessels, while smaller boats can travel further upstream toward the interior. Conditions on the water change with the seasons, so checking with local people before any trip on the river is a good idea.
The sugar known worldwide as "Demerara sugar" takes its name directly from this river, because it was first produced on plantations along its banks. Today that coarse, golden sugar is sold in shops across the world, yet few buyers know it is named after a river in Guyana.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
