Ortoire River

Thousands of years ago, Trinidadian natives settled at the mouth of the Ortoire River, the longest river in Trinidad and Tobago, at about 34 miles long. It quickly became a hotspot for fishing because of its wide variety of edible fish, such as catfish, tarpon, and salmon. However, not only is the Ortoire home to multiple species of fish, it also has a secret. A secret kept for many years by the villagers of Cedar Grove. When darkness falls upon the Ortoire, especially on dry, hot nights, tiny blue, glowing dots appear in the river, usually at contact points where the water meets land, bridges, or objects in the water. This is called bioluminescence and is usually found in oceans but sometimes appears in rivers and lakes. But why keep this magical occurrence a secret? The civilians of Cedar Grove and other villages and towns dotting the Ortoire kept the bioluminescence a secret because they didn’t want to be overwhelmed by tourists who would inevitably alter the ecosystem of the river. The Ortoire River remains one of the greatest prides of Trinidad and Tobago, and a secret, as well.