For some reason, many people know the man-made Niagara Falls in the United States as the largest and highest waterfall in the world. But the real truth is hidden in the unique lands of Venezuela. Angel Falls, located within the borders of Canaima National Park today, is the highest waterfall in the world and is one of the most interesting tourism centers in the country.
Angel Falls, besides its striking height, creates an extremely rich ecosystem around it. The discovery story of the waterfall is quite interesting. Angel Falls, which was found completely by chance, takes its name from the explorer who discovered himself. Let’s get to know Angel Falls, which is the highest waterfall in the world, and share some information that you will be quite surprised to hear.
Interesting information about Angel Falls:
- The highest waterfall in the world.
- The story of the discovery of Angel Falls is the subject of movies.
- Angel Falls is the result of billions of years of formation.
- Vast ecosystem that hosts hundreds of living species.
- The name of Angel Falls is controversial.
- Waterfall protected by evil spirits.
- In hot weather, water evaporates before it falls to the ground.
- Angel Falls has inspired some movies.
Highest waterfall in the world:
Angel Falls, located within the borders of Canaima National Park today, is a tributary of the 260 km long Churún River. It is exactly 979 meters long and the width of the bed it is poured is 150 meters. The spill site is a mountain called ‘Auyán-Tepuí’. To see the whole of Angel Falls, you must either get very far or look from the air. If you can’t visualize 979 meters exactly, we can say that it is exactly three floors of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.
The story of the discovery of Angel Falls is the subject of movies:
American adventurer Jimmie Angel, while gliding in his single-engine plane over Venezuela in 1937, suddenly fell into desolation due to a malfunction. It has to land in the middle. While trying to reach civilization with his wife and three friends, he discovers a mind-blowing waterfall. Taking the surname of the explorer, Angel Falls took its place on Venezuelan maps for the first time in 1939. The ashes of Jimmie Angel, who died in 1960, were scattered in the waterfall he named.
Angel Falls is the result of billions of years of formation:
Angel Falls is impressive even on its own, and when we evaluate it with the geological formation it is in, it is even more so. it becomes astonishing. The area where the waterfall is located is from the first years of the formation of the supercontinent. So its estimated age is about 2 billion years. The geological transformations in the region are the kind that will illuminate the formation of the world.
Wide ecosystem that hosts hundreds of living species:
A rare ecosystem has developed in the region where Angel Falls is located. More than 500 bird species, more than 500 species of orchids, monkeys, frogs, anteaters, armadillos, hedgehogs, sloths, otters, jaguars, pumas, tapirs and many more animal and plant species live in this area. Most species found here are plants and animals native to this region only.
Angel Falls name is controversial:
Angel Falls is named after the American explorer Jimmie Angel who discovered it, but this name is not accepted by the people of Venezuela. Although it is accepted as Angel Falls by the world, the local people of the region have been calling this waterfall KerepakupaiMerú for hundreds of years. In fact, then-president Hugo Chavez conducted international studies on the subject in 2009.
Waterfall protected by evil spirits:
The area where Angel Falls is located is hundreds of kilometers from the center of Venezuela. The Auyán-tepui and Kamarakotos Pemon tribes still live in the area. Known by the world after the 1950s and opened to tourism after the 1990s, when the region was full of unknowns, the tribal peoples living there were afraid to approach Angel Falls. This was because they believed that the waterfall was guarded by evil spirits.
In hot weather, the water evaporates before it hits the ground:
Those who want to see Angel Falls are recommended to go to Venezuela between May and November. If you go between December and April, it is possible to encounter only one mountain. Because during this period the precipitation decreases considerably and the temperature rises. Consider a temperature like this: the water flowing from Angel Falls evaporates before it even falls into its bed. Of course, let’s not go without saying that after this evaporation, the place is covered with a fascinating fog.
Angel Falls has inspired some movies:
We were not exaggerating when we said that Angel Falls has a story that will be the subject of movies. The Paradise Falls waterfalls in the 2009 Disney animated movie Up were inspired by Angel Falls. It is also possible to encounter Angel Falls in 1990’s Arachnophobia and 2015’s Point Break movies.
We shared interesting information about Angel Falls in Venezuela, which is the highest waterfall in the world and fascinates those who see it, and we talked about the details you need to know about this region. You can share your thoughts about Angel Falls in the comments.
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