The Earth is full of surprising corners, places that it is difficult to believe that they exist but that thanks to Mother Nature or the hand of man can be found in different parts of the planet. In Vuela Viajes we have told you about many of them (the Richat Structure in Mauritania, the Celeste River in Costa Rica, the Nasca Lines of Peru, the Namibian tree cemetery, Lord Howe Island …), but, as You can imagine, we still have many other places to show you, such as Mount Roraima , which is part of the Canaima National Park of Venezuela.
Would you like to know more details about this mountain that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO ? Well then you can’t miss anything that we tell you below!
Location
Also known as Cerro Roraima or Tepuy Roraima (the tepuis are vertical mountains with the shape of a plateau and vertical walls many meters high), Mount Roraima is located in the Sierra de Pacaraima, right on the border between Venezuela, Brazil and Gauyama. At 2,810 meters high, it is considered the highest mountain in this area, although what is truly surprising about this place is not its size but the top, which is a 31-square-kilometer plateau surrounded by 400-meter-high cliffs. . As you can see from the pictures, the look is really impressive.
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 the stories of this explorer 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 Orinoco or the Amazon.
Numerous endemic species
Beyond its surprising lunar landscapes and the magnificent views that can be appreciated from the summit, one of the things that is most surprising 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 on 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 Roraima black frog, a most curious organism that cannot jump but has some species of suction cups that help it to hold onto the rocks. .
Trekking
But don’t think that this wealth is found only on the plateau. Throughout the ascent, many incredible species can be seen, so most visitors choose to go up on foot instead of taking a helicopter. Of course, you should know that the trek lasts 6 days. During the tour you will be able to discover, among many other things, natural pools and the Valley of the Crystals, which is surprising for 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!
