(ORDO NEWS) — Climbing to the top of Roraima was my old dream: hundreds of stories of famous travelers about the discovery and conquest of the mountain, myths and legends of the ancient Indians, as well as the book “The Lost World” by Conan Doyle turned this area into a fantastic land. Because of this aura of mystery, it seemed to me that it would be incredibly difficult to make my dream come true, but in reality everything turned out to be relatively easy – as it can be on the other side of the world.
General Information
Roraima is one of the tepui (table mountains) that are located in the Canaima National Park in the southeastern part of Venezuela, near the border with Brazil and Guyana. The maximum height of the mountain is 2800 m, and the top is a plateau with an area of 34 km².
Tepui are considered the oldest mountain formations on Earth, their age is about 2 billion years. Endemic animals and plants live here. For a long time, tepui were considered impregnable, so legends were made about them one after another. The Pemon Indians who inhabited these lands believed that tepui were giant stumps of ancient trees, with the help of which the planet was fed with energy.
Europeans cherished dreams of riches, and the writer Conan Doyle, inspired by stories about tepui, wrote a novel about a mysterious plateau where dinosaurs live to this day. There were many attempts to climb, which often ended in the death of daredevils. And only at the end of the 19th century it was possible to conquer one of the mountains – Roraima. To date, it is still the only tepui where a traveler can climb without special equipment.
Mount Roraima: characteristics
Thick snow-white clouds often hang near the steep slopes of the tepui, turning the flat top into a mysterious island floating in the sky. The amazing world of untouched nature, outlandish colored lakes and fantastic landscapes complete the picture and attract millions of travelers with their mystery. The names of individual sections speak for themselves – Labyrinth, Jacuzzi, Valley of Crystals, etc.
One fifth of the plateau is occupied by water bodies – lakes with crystal clear water, peat bogs and rivers rushing into cracks, descending in cascades and falling off cliffs with high waterfalls. Numerous karst caves form a whole system of underground cavities Roraima Sur, with a total length of 15 km and a height difference of 73 meters. In 2003–05 cavers discovered and mapped the world’s largest karst cave, called the Crystal Eye.
From afar, the plateau resembles a completely flat area, but there are hills and depressions on it. Everywhere one can see bizarre stone heaps, chaotic in shape and size, which are the result of uneven weathering and washing out of sandstone. They resemble fantasy castles, frozen giants, giant mushrooms, mythical animals and space aliens.
In terms of the mountain has irregular outlines. It is elongated from the southwest to the northeast, with a semicircular recess on the western side.
A special marker installed on the plateau indicates the point of intersection of the borders of three states.
Mount Roraima is surrounded by tepui – from the west Kukenan, from the east – Wei-Assipu, or Little Roraima (Roraimita), from the northwest – Yuruani.
Origin of Tepui
About 200 million years ago, on the site of lonely cliffs, there was a vast plateau composed of Precambrian sandstones. In the process of erosion and tectonic movements, weak rocks were washed out and weathered, as a result of which tepui were formed, characterized by relatively flat tops, vertical walls, the presence of numerous sinkholes and caves. The rock contains a large amount of quartz, which forms white-pink crystals.
In the language of the Pemon Indians, the original inhabitants of the Great Savannah, the word “tepui” means nothing more than “the house of the gods” and the habitat of the spirits of the mawari, the guardians of the savannah. On Roraima, according to their legends, the mother of all people, the goddess Quin, lives.
Exploring Roraima
For the first time, Robert Schomburgk reached the vicinity of Mount Roraima, it happened back in 1838. Almost half a century later, in 1884, European botanists Harry Perkins and Im Turnu also managed to reach the mountain peak, for whom the Roraima Plateau became a kind of botanical treasure, since the rarest animals and plants were discovered on untouched lands.
In the 2000s, during expeditions, the largest quartz cave system in the world to date was discovered. In order to get into this cave, you need to go down to a depth of more than 70 meters. This dungeon is considered unique because it has 18 exits.
Another natural phenomenon that was discovered on the Roraima plateau is a huge waterfall. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is the source of the river, and not vice versa, as is usually the case.
Quite specific is the animal and plant world. More than 20 species of orchids have been found on the top of the mountain, and carnivorous plants are also widespread.
Nature Miracle
In South America, in the middle of the impenetrable jungle, there is an unusual mountain Roraima. The second name of the mountain is “tepui”, which is translated from the language of the Indians as “the house of the gods”.
Due to the presence of a flat plateau and steep walls, the mountain is considered a “table” mountain. The height of the mountain exceeds 2700 meters, and the area of its plateau is about 34 km2. It is located on the territory of three states – Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana. Scientists could not study this mountain for a long time because of its impregnability.
Flora and Fauna
The inaccessibility and isolation of the Roraima tepui from the surrounding natural world made it possible to preserve the uniqueness of the plants growing here. The acidic soil, depleted in leaching of organic matter and minerals, forced them to adapt, and for the sake of survival, to coexist with different types of organisms in a mutually beneficial symbiosis.
Prominent representatives of such a “fusion” are insectivorous plants – pemphigus, endemic Roraima sundew and drooping heliamphora found on other Venezuelan tepui. About 230 varieties of vascular plants have been discovered and studied on Roraima, including centipedes, orchids and Compositae. Two types of endemics are found only on this table mountain. The trees on the plateau are stunted, with leathery leaves.
The surface of the sandstone is covered with microscopic black algae and lichens. Its contrast with the pure bright pink stone under the clear water evokes indescribable emotions.
The evergreen tropical forest framing the tepui is often woven into impenetrable thickets. The undergrowth contains tree ferns and palms, and the trees contain epiphytes that use other plants only as physical support. More than 25 species of orchids can be found on the mountain.
Of the living inhabitants of the Roraima Plateau, the tiny black toad, a relic Guianan harlequin, is of particular interest. She does not jump and does not know how to swim, but sensing danger, she instantly curls up and rolls into the nearest crevice.
On the plateau you can see small-sized birds, as well as butterflies that have a dark color. There are reptiles, amphibians, 5 cm Gulliver ants and rodents. They say that 15-meter monsters unknown to the modern world have survived here, resembling snakes, but with a huge head and a back with several humps.
Such stories may seem like another legend of Roraima, but it should be borne in mind that the tepui still holds many unsolved secrets, and the first evidence of researchers who fell into the “non-existent world” was perceived by contemporaries as nothing more than fantasy of an unhealthy perception.
At the foot of the mountain, many species of birds nest. Small mammals and reptiles live here. The caves were chosen by bats, spiders and locusts.
Climatic Conditions
The Great Savannah region is under the influence of a tropical climate, but the climatic conditions on the Mount Roraima plateau differ from the weather observed at its foot. If at the bottom the average annual air temperature is +20–22 degrees Celsius and the amount of precipitation does not exceed 1500 mm per year, then at the top of the tepuya the average annual temperature is close to +10–12 degrees (sometimes drops to +2). Precipitation here falls up to 4000 mm per year. In addition, the plateau is characterized by high cloudiness, frequent thunderstorms, and humidity of 75–85%.
The best time to travel is the dry season, from December to March. You must be vaccinated against tropical diseases before traveling.
Place of the Gods
The Indians believe in living on top of many Gods, as well as the pro-mothers of all living beings on the planet – the Queen Goddess. Mysticism and legends are added by the fact that the mountain is often shrouded in dense clouds, because of this, it attracts tourists from all over the world to conquer it and unravel its secrets.
Legend of Roraima
For a long time, Mount Roraima was an inaccessible object for climbers due to the difficulty of climbing. The path runs through the jungle, swamps and rivers, and only the most courageous person can conquer its peak.
In the 60s of the 20th century, an expedition went to the mountain. At the top, they found the remains of unknown animals, incomprehensible rock paintings in caves. But the main thing is that they got lost in a dense dense fog and could not find a way to the descent. In their opinion, they wandered for several weeks on the mountain, what was their surprise when, upon returning home, they were told that they had not been there for 4 years.
Scientists came to the conclusion that time goes differently on the mountain – this is really a “lost corner” of the planet.
Features of Roraima
- Robert Schomburg became the first person who was able to conquer this mountain, it happened in 1838.
- The most productive expedition took place in 2000, when a huge network of quartz caves was discovered. To get into the cave, you need to go down 70 meters deep. 18 exits were found in the caves.
- Another feature is the large waterfall. He is the source of the river, and usually the river is the source of the waterfall.
- The mountain attracts clouds, so most of the time the mountain is shrouded in thick dense fog, which adds mystery.
Streams and waterfalls flowing down the mountain
- Also, charred trees are often found on the mountain, which makes it clear that the mountain attracts thunderclouds and lightning is a frequent occurrence in these places.
- Arthur Conan Doyle inspired by this unusual wonder of nature, wrote a fantasy novel “The Lost World”
- Due to the abundance of precipitation, the lakes are constantly replenished with water, which breaks down from high cliffs in a powerful stream. This is the secret of the origin of waterfalls.
- In the protected area and at the very top you can find many unique animals and plants from the Red Book. Some of them grow only on the plateau.
Roraima attracts thunderclouds.
Tourism
Every year, thousands of tourists try to conquer the unusual mountain peak. The hike starts from the capital of Venezuela – the city of Caracas. You must first buy a climbing tour, since climbing to the protected area on your own is prohibited by law.
The ascent will take place with a trained guide, the tour will last 6-10 days. You can also “conquer” the mountain by helicopter, but this trip will be costly and rarely used, because then people lose the opportunity to enjoy the natural views on the way to the mountain.
Route
Standard expeditions to Roraima take 6 to 8 days.
On the first day, the group leaves the tourist town of Santa Elena de Airen, from where they are taken by jeep to the village of Paratepuy. There is a checkpoint to the national park. From the entrance to the first camp, tourists have to walk 12 km along a relatively flat road.
The next two days they are waiting for a fairly intense rise. By the end of the third day, the group climbs to the top of Roraima.
Depending on the chosen tour, travelers spend from 1 to 3 days on the plateau, exploring the surroundings. The sights on the top of Roraima are very diverse, so a group staying for more days will see much more.
The last two days take the descent and return to the village Paratepuy.
The diagram below clearly shows the route with campsites where tourists stay.
However, the timing of trips to Roraima does not have strict boundaries. Those who want to save money and those who do not have enough time can climb in 5 or even 4 days, if they have good physical data and are ready to noticeably accelerate the pace. And those who want to enjoy tepui longer can book a private expedition for an unlimited period.
How to get to Santa Elena
From Venezuela
The nearest airport to Santa Elena is located in the Venezuelan city of Puerto Ordaz. From there, you can get to the area in several ways:
- Take a regular double-decker bus. The cost of a 10-hour trip starts from 3 (!) dollars.
- Order a private transfer at the airport. From 20 dollars.
- Take advantage of private flights, announcements of which periodically appear at the airport of Puerto Ordaz. The advantage of this option is a clear time saving (less than an hour on the way), the minus is the difficulty of finding the author of the ad on the spot.
From Brazil
A great option for tourists who travel to Brazil and do not plan to stay in Venezuela for a long time. Regular buses run to the border with Venezuela from the Amazonian capital – the city of Manaus. A ten-hour ride in a comfortable bus will cost about $40. After passing the border, which will not be difficult, you can take a taxi to the city of Santa Elena – the driver will take you to your destination in just 30 minutes and 5 dollars.
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