Canaima National Park, National park in Bolívar, Venezuela
Canaima National Park covers a large area in southeastern Venezuela and includes numerous table mountains with steep rock faces, dense rainforests, and wide savanna plains. Rivers run through the terrain in broad valleys and form waterfalls that tumble between the high formations.
The Venezuelan government declared the area a national park in 1962 to protect the landscape and the communities living there. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage list in 1994, recognizing the geological formations and biological diversity.
The Pemón communities use trails along rivers and plains that their ancestors have walked for centuries. Many visitors learn from local guides the names of plants and animals in the Pemón language, which remain closely tied to daily life in the park.
Travelers reach the area mostly by small planes or canoes, since roads are absent and the terrain is difficult to access. Those who want to visit the waterfalls and mountains should plan several days and bring weather-resistant gear.
The tallest uninterrupted waterfall cascade on Earth, Salto Ángel, drops nearly 1000 meters (about 3200 feet) from the edge of a table mountain. On many days the water atomizes into fine mist during its long descent before reaching the ground.
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