Angel Falls - Canaima

Angel Falls, Canaima, largest waterfall, Venezuela

Angel Falls

Angel Falls is the longest waterfall in the world. Plunges down from the western flank of a gorge in the middle of the Auyan-tepui. With a total height of 979m, and free fall of 807m, it is more than 19 times longer than Niagara. The water that leaves the summit takes fourteen seconds to reach the bottom.

Angel Falls: The journey to Angel Falls by river boat unveils a collage of lush jungle, rampant rapids, serene lagoons and 700 indigenous species of plants. There’s excellent hiking or mountain-biking in the area and you’ll enjoy relaxing in the swimming pools.

Although the local Indians knew of the falls existence for thousands of years, the earliest recorded sighting by a white man was in 1910, by Venezuelan explorer Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz. However the falls take their name from the American bush-pilot Jimmy Angel, who first flew over the area in 1921. He flew in from Panama, where he had been hired by an old prospector to fly to and land on the summit of Auyan-tepui, where they allegedly found a stream, and panned considerable quantities of gold. The prospector, having sold his haul for $27,000, subsequently died, and it was not until 1935 that Angel returned, and found the falls that now bear his name. Two years later, in 1937, he attempted a landing, but despite a successful touchdown the aircraft nose-dived when it hit soft ground at the end of its landing run and Angel, his wife Marie and his companions Gustavo Heny and his gardener, had to walk out. Luckily Heny had previously climbed the tepui and was able to guide the party down the south flank, a trip that took them 11 days.

Canaima

Canaima: The Pemon-Indian village of Canaima is a great place to kick-back and the whole area is abundant in waterfalls