King William IV Falls is located along the Upper Essequibo River, near the Amerindian village, Apoteri.
German-born explorer Sir Robert Schomburgk, who carried out geographical, ethnological and botanical studies in South America and the West Indies for Great Britain, named the falls King William IV Falls in honour of the-then British monarch and first patron of the Royal Geographical Society.
Describing the King William IV Falls, “The Guiana Travels of Robert Schomburgk, 1835-1844” stated: “…The water descends in two falls, the upper is larger, and may amount to from 12 to 14 feet in height; the water precipitating itself over a ridge of jagged rocks, pursues its way foaming and tossing to the second fall…so the falls from the upper to the lower cataract amount at least to 20 feet…”
A tourist, who recently visited the area (Apoteri village to King William IV Falls), said: “This stretch of water is amazing with no logging, gold mining and no commercial fishing. Not a piece of trash in sight. After traveling in the South American rainforests, this is one of the most pristine areas. Water is teeming with fish: even one of your biggest freshwater fish, the Arapaima, along with giant catfish. Cock of the Rock birds, along with jaguar sighting, makes this a special place.”(Photo from barbelblogger.blogspot.com)
