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Angel Waterfalls
Angel Waterfalls is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall. It is located in the Canaima National Park, within the Bolivar State of southeastern Venezuela. The waterfall tumbles from a cleft near the summit of Table Top Mountain, which is also known as Devil’s Canyon. Its total height is 979m, of which the uninterrupted drop is 807m, nearly 16 times the height of Niagara Falls. The falls are on the Rio Kerepacupai Meru river, a tributary of the Rio Carrao and part of the Orinoco River system.
Suddenly, the river drops into a fracture system and accelerates through a channelized cascade of white water. The water of the falls drops into fractures and caverns, then bursts into the air through openings below the top of the sandstone cliff.
The angel waterfall is situated in a distant, lush wilderness with no road access. Tourists can visit by boat and stay overnight in hammocks, one of the camps near the base of the falls.
Geology
The cascade of heart-shaped Auyantepui, one of the largest of the sandstone-capped mesas, into Devil’s Canyon. Angel waterfalls are considered among the world’s most dazzling natural wonders. The fall lies in the Canaima National Park area, which was founded in 1962. In 1994, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site.
There are dozens of Tepuis or mesas in this region; remnants of what geologists believe were the mountains of the ancient supercontinent known as Gondwana. Some of these isolated mesas are two billion years old. The Area preserved an array of unique plant and animal life.
The word ‘Tepui’ comes from the language of the Pemon Indians. Tepui means ‘house of the gods’. The Tepui formations are completely isolated from each other. In Geoscientific terms, it is known as a Mesa, a table-shaped mountain.
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Canaima National Park
The Angel Waterfall is found within the Canaima National Park in Venezuela, not far from the border with Brazil and Guyana. Roraima, a table-top mountain near the park’s Guyana/Brazil border, is the tallest tepui in the park and extremely spectacular. This giant Mesa measures 2,810 meters and is a favorite destination among those looking for eye-stopping views.
A trek to this summit takes five days. A guide is essential and can be hired from the Canaima camp. The best time to visit Angel Falls is between the months of May and November.
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How to Reach Angel Waterfalls
To reach Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) in Venezuela, visitors must first fly into Canaima National Park (CAJ). The traditional, immersive journey then involves a multi-hour river trip via motorized canoe (curiara) led by local Pemon guides, followed by a jungle hike to the falls’ base, typically requiring an overnight stay in hammocks. The ideal time to travel is between June and December when high river levels ensure access. Alternatively, helicopter tours offer spectacular aerial views or direct access.
