When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his novel The Lost World, described it as a place where the mountains were flat on top, living dinosaurs and prehistoric man lived a cannibal. By the year 1912 the British had stories that appeared in his only taken out of his imagination, but this exotic place indeed existed was in Venezuela, was the Gran Sabana.
Although the early twentieth century who dared to venture into this hostile territory were scientists, the passage of years has made the Gran Sabana in a tourist destination increasingly coveted by those seeking some adventure. And find it.
Also known as Canaima National Park, this place has an area of three million hectares, making it one of the largest in the world and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in the world. Is located in southeastern Bolivar State and includes the municipalities Piar, Sifontes and Gran Sabana. The park was created in May 1962 and extended in 1975. Its landscape and biological richness and its more than two billion years ago, in 1994 it became a World Heritage Site.
Among the most outstanding features of the Gran Sabana are the "tepuy" which in the language of the indigenous community Pemón means abode of the gods. These spectacular mountains rising high and whose main characteristic is that its top is flat. The base of these formations is covered by dense forest that is transformed as the altitude modifies the climate and conditions. From it emerge moles imposing stone walls and cliffs straight.
The tepuis tend to be isolated from each other, ie not part of a common chain. This feature has made in each of these mountains are developed endemic plant and animal species, most still unknown to science. In fact, over 90% of the plateaus that form the tops of these formations have never been trodden by man. Some experts consider the Gran Sabana as a single ecoregion.
Colossal
Among the best known tepuyes is the largest in size, the Auyantepuy, from whose summit is born Angel Falls (the highest waterfall in the world with 980 meters). This mountain of 2,650 m is located at the western end of the park and to access it is required flights by light aircraft, navigation on rivers and walks to reach base. However, the star of the park, it is the most visited by thousands of tourists, foreign and domestic, each year.
In the eastern sector are the mountains and Kukenan Roraima. "Roroima" as called pemones, also known as "the mother of all waters" and is the top of the table mountains of the Gran Sabana (2,810 meters). Those who reach the top you can see part of the 300 species of endemic plants in the park, including carnivorous species and a stunning ocean quartz.
For its part, Kukenan summit (2,680 m), narrate legends, pemones defeated in their struggle against "Makushi" Brazil or suffering broken heart jumped into the abyss. So also is called "Matawi", which means "if you get die." It has a magnificent waterfall which holds second place in the world with its 600 meters high.
Tourism promotion
According to the renowned mountaineer and writer Madrid Cesar Perez Tudela, who has made several visits to the Gran Sabana, when it reached the tops of the table mountains have another world view, one that is closer to the idea of paradise, at the origin of existence: crystal stones, orchids, huge, large insectivorous plants, lichens and multicolored rock formations, as thousands of "enchanted cities of Cuenca.
In any journey is made by crossing the Gran Sabana Canaima National Park can be seen the most important place tepuyes eye. Tourism growth has been rapid in recent years due to the facilities and amenities offered package tours and lodges in the region.
The hospitality of its most ancient, indigenous pemones (meaning people), also makes the visit here a wonderful experience. They have adapted to tourism and generally protect their environment, creating strong standards for the use of the park move with agility in the intricate network of rivers thrilling Guyana and have the Orinoco river, the oldest exposed land on the planet, as part of everyday life.
Those who had the opportunity to see the Gran Sabana say visit is an experience that marks a before and after. Admiring a tepuy is a gift, a joy to promote him and keep a necessity. Hence, besides the invitation to explore one of the most spectacular places on the planet is also to do so responsibly.
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