Kaieteur National Park, National park in Potaro-Siparuni, Guyana.
Kaieteur National Park is a protected area in the Potaro-Siparuni region of Guyana, centered on the Kaieteur Falls, where the Potaro River drops about 741 feet (226 meters) over a sandstone cliff. The park covers a large section of tropical rainforest on the Guiana Highlands plateau, with the falls forming a wide curtain of water before plunging into a narrow gorge below.
The park was established in 1929, making it one of the earliest protected areas in Guyana, created initially to protect the falls and the land immediately around them. The protected zone was expanded over the following decades to bring in more of the surrounding forest as its value became clearer.
The Patamona people, an indigenous group, have long lived in this part of Guyana and regard the falls as a place of deep meaning in their oral traditions. Visitors who walk near the viewpoints may encounter guides from these communities who share their knowledge of the forest.
Getting to the park requires booking a tour with an authorized operator, as small aircraft from Georgetown are the main way in and out. Visitors should pack warm layers and waterproof clothing, since conditions near the falls can be wet and cooler than expected.
A tiny golden frog called the golden rocket frog lives on the mossy rocks right at the base of the falls, and it is found almost nowhere else on Earth. It is one of the smallest frogs in the world, small enough to sit comfortably on a thumbnail.
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