Monte Roraima, a spectacle of nature in Venezuela

Monte Roraima Venezuela
The Earth is full of surprising corners, places that are hard to believe exist but that thanks to Mother Nature or the hand of man can be found in different parts of the planet. In Hard Hobbit To Break we have told you about many of them (the Richat Structure in Mauritania, the Celeste River in Costa Rica, the Nasca Lines in Peru, the tree cemetery in Namibia, the Lord Howe Island ...), but As you can imagine, we still have many other places to show you, such as the Mount roraima, which is part of the Canaima National Park of Venezuela.

Do you want to know more details about this mountain that has been declared a World Heritage Site by the Unesco? Well, then you can not miss anything we tell you below!

Location

Also known as Cerro Roraima or Tepuy Roraima (the tepuis are vertical mountains shaped like a plateau and vertical walls many meters high), Monte Roraima is located in the Sierra de Pacaraima, just in the border between Venezuela, Brazil and Gauyama. At 2,810 meters high, it is considered the highest mountain in this area, although what really surprises about this place is not its dimensions but the top, which is a 31 square kilometer plateau surrounded by cliffs about 400 meters high. . As you can see in the images, the aspect is really impressive.


Monte Roraima Venezuela1

The mother of all waters

Apparently the first person to write about this place was Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596. Interestingly, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle relied on this explorer's accounts to write "The lost World”, One of his most famous novels, which has inspired other works, such as the animated film“ Up ”. In addition to being one of the oldest geological formations (it seems that its origin dates back more than 2,000 million years), it is one of the wettest places on earth (it rains practically every day). In fact, the first explorers called this place "the mother of all waters", something logical considering that numerous waterfalls fall from the top, which are the source of some important rivers, such as the Orínoco or the Amazon.

Monte Roraima Venezuela2


Numerous endemic species

Beyond its surprising lunar landscapes and the magnificent views that can be seen from the summit, one of the most surprising things about this place is its varied endemic life due to its thousands of years of isolation. In fact, it seems that 35% of the species that live in this mountain cannot be found elsewhere. The numerous carnivorous plants that can be found here stand out, in addition to the Oreophrynella quelchii, better known as the black frog of Roraima, a most curious organism that cannot jump but that has some species of suckers that help it to hold onto the rocks .

Monte Roraima Venezuela3

The trekking

But do not think that this wealth is found only on the plateau. Throughout the ascent many incredible species can be seen, so most visitors opt to go up on foot instead of taking a helicopter. Of course, you should know that the trekking It lasts 6 days. During the tour you will discover, among many other things, natural pools and the Valley of Crystals, which surprises with the quartz crystals that cover the rocks. Then we leave you with our Gallery, where you can find more images of Mount Roraima. Do not miss it!

Earth's STRANGEST Lost Worlds (March 2024)


  • mountains
  • 1,230