Llanos, << LAH nohz or YAH nohz, >> meaning level lands, is most often used to mean a great savanna (grassland with scattered trees) region in Venezuela and Colombia. This plain is known as the Orinoco Basin. The region covers about 300,000 square miles (780,000 square kilometers). Farmers have traditionally raised cattle and horses on the llanos. However, the region has wet and dry seasons that make farming difficult.
During the 1960’s, government officials began flood control and irrigation programs to increase agricultural production on the llanos. A major industrial facility is located at Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, on the llanos. The facility uses iron ore and bauxite from nearby mines. It receives energy from a hydroelectric plant on the Orinoco River.
