Puerto Ordaz, Administrative division in Bolívar State, Venezuela
Puerto Ordaz forms the western half of Ciudad Guayana, where the Caroní River meets the Orinoco. The built-up area stretches along the river's south shore with industrial, commercial and residential zones separated by wide roads.
Mining and steel companies founded the town in 1952 to house workers for ore processing and steel production. The planning followed North American models because US corporations participated in its development.
The name honors Diego de Ordaz, a Spanish explorer who sailed the Orinoco in the 16th century. Streets follow a grid pattern with wide boulevards and green spaces between residential neighborhoods that still shape the urban layout today.
The center sits near the bridge over the Caroní that links both parts of Ciudad Guayana. Buses and taxis run between neighborhoods, and an airport is located on the eastern side of the agglomeration.
Two waterfalls, Cachamay and Llovizna, sit at the edge of the urban area where the Caroní flows through rock gorges. These natural sites lie a short distance from the center and contrast with the industrial plants nearby.
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