Angel Falls
Angel Falls or Salto Ángel (indigenous name: Kerepakupay Vená) is the world's highest, free-falling waterfall at 3,212 feet with an uninterrupted drop of 2,648 feet lying in the Canaima National Park, Venezuela at {{#invoke:Coordinates|coord}}{{#coordinates:5|58|03|N|62|32|08|W| | |name= }}.
It is situated in the river Churún, an affluent of the Carrao. Tourists sometimes refer to this stretch of the river as the Auyan Tepui river, but the river that culminates in the drop is the Kerepakupai-merú. In the indigenous Pemón language Kerepakupai-merú means "waterfall of the deepest place." The falls are also referred to as Churún-merú, an error, since that name corresponds to another waterfall within the Canaima National Park. Churún in indigenous Pemón language means "thunder."
The official height was determined by a National Geographic Society survey in 1949. David Nott's book, Angels Four, chronicles the first successful climb up the face of Auyan Tepui (Devil's Mountain) to the top of the falls. The falls are one of Venezuela's top tourist attractions.
Discovery
Although sighted in the early twentieth century by the explorer Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz, the waterfall was not known to the Western world until it was visited in 1935 by the American aviator, James Crawford Angel, on a flight while searching for a valuable ore bed. In 1936, he returned and landed his plane at the top of the waterfall. The falls are currently named "Angel Falls" after him; interestingly enough, the indigenous name for the falls was "Devil's Mouth."
Angel's Flamingo monoplane settled down into the marshy ground atop Auyan-tepui and remained there for 33 years before being lifted out by a helicopter. Jimmy Angel and his three companions managed to descend the tepui and make their way back to civilization in 11 days. Jimmy Angel's plane sits in the Aviation Museum in Maracay; the one visible on the top of the tepui is a replica.
Environment
Landscape
Angel Falls is situated in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. The periphery of this area is filled with grasslands, whereas deeper into the Gran Sabana one finds dense jungle. This part of the world is remarkable for its numerous tepuy, which are flat-topped mountains with flat walls. Angel falls is located on the side of an extremely large and high tepuy known as Auyan Tepuy.
Flora and fauna
There is an incredible variety of tropical wildlife in the area, including monkeys, poison arrow frogs, and hundreds of species of orchids. Aside from the monkeys, mammals in the area are generally difficult to spot but include giant anteaters, armadillos, porcupines, three-toed sloths, otters, jaguars, pumas, tapirs, and capybaras.
Climate
Tropical, with frequent rainstorms. The driest time of year - when the Falls may be just a trickle - is from December to April.
Getting in
Angel Falls is located in the wilderness of Venezuela, and a trip to the falls is not a simple affair. An air flight is required. Trips to the falls are sold in a package. It is also possible to purchase a package that includes an aerial flyby of the falls. The falls cannot be seen on cloudy days, and there is no guarantee a visitor will see them. During the dry season (December to March) there is less water than what is seen in some photos, but it also more likely that the top will not be clouded. The entire trip usually takes 24 hours.
Tours
In principle, one can charter a plane to Canaima, and then try to organize oneself to get to the falls. In practice, the simplest thing to do is sign up for a tour that takes care of the details. If you book a tour from your home country, it is likely to be rather expensive. Similarly, booking a tour from Caracas will cost more. It is cheapest to book a tour from Ciudad Bolivar. Nearly all the Angel Falls' tours operate out of this city, and their prices include the cost of a plane that flies from Ciudad Bolivar to Canaima. Expect to pay about $250.00 for a three-day tour that brings you to the falls. More expensive tours may include a flight that takes you right over the falls.
A typical tour will include the flight to Canaima, and then three days of meals and (very simple and rustic) accommodations at the various campsites along the river towards the falls. Drinking the water at the falls is not recommended. Boat rides along with sections of hiking are required to get to the campsites. Tour guides typically speak Spanish and English.
Fees/Permits
Angel Falls is deep within the National Park. When first entering the park at the airport in Canaima) one must pay the park entrance fee $4.00.
Getting around
The small settlement of Canaima is negotiable by foot. Trips up to the Falls, however, will be in a dugout canoe, or curiara. The 30-minute or so walk from the closest point on the river to the base of the Falls is not easy going because of large tree roots on the path and visitors are advised to wear sports shoes for this hike.
Things to do
The trip towards the fall itself has many attractions. The boat rides and walks through the jungle offer a unique view of Venezuelan flora, fauna, and terrain. If the water flow is mild enough, you can swim in the small pool that forms below the falls.
Camping
Camping is NOT allowed in any circumstances. They are very strict about that.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
- Angel falls
- Article about Jimmie Angel and Ruth Robertson with photos
- Template:Wwdb name
- Travel guide to Angel Falls from Wikitravel
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- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Satellite image from WikiMapia
- Mapping from OpenStreetMap
Credits
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