La Gran Sabana (, ) is a region in southeastern

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

, part of the

Guianan savanna The Guianan savanna (NT0707) is an ecoregion in the south of Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname and the north of Brazil. It is in the Amazon biome. The savanna covers an area of rolling upland plains on the Guiana Shield between the Amazon and Orino ...

ecoregion. The savanna spreads into the regions of the Guiana Highlands and south-east into Bolívar State, extending further to the borders with

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

and

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...

. The Gran Sabana has an area of and is part of the second largest

National Park A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...

in Venezuela, the

Canaima National Park Canaima National Park () is a park in south-eastern Venezuela that roughly occupies the same area as the La Gran Sabana, Gran Sabana region. It is located in Bolívar State (Venezuela), Bolívar State, reaching the borders with Brazil and Guya ...

. Only Parima Tapirapecó National Park is larger than Canaima. The average temperature is around , but at night can drop to and in some of the more elevated sites, depending on weather, may drop a bit more. The location offers one of the most unusual landscapes in the world, with rivers, waterfalls, gorges, deep and vast valleys, impenetrable jungles, and savannas that host large numbers and varieties of plant species, a diverse fauna, and the isolated table-top

mesa A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge, or hill, bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and standing distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks, such as shales, capped by a ...

s locally known as ''

tepui A tepui , or tepuy (), is a member of a family of table-top mountains or mesas found in northern South America, especially in Venezuela, western Guyana, and northern Brazil. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the ...

s''.

History

During the time of the

Colonial Venezuela Spanish expeditions led by Christopher Columbus, Columbus and Alonso de Ojeda reached the coast of present-day Venezuela in 1498 and 1499. The first colony, colonial exploitation was of the pearl oysters of the "Pearl Islands". Spain established ...

, the extent of the territories of Guiana and its natural resources gave rise to the legend of

El Dorado El Dorado () is a mythical city of gold supposedly located somewhere in South America. The king of this city was said to be so rich that he would cover himself from head to foot in gold dust – either daily or on certain ceremonial occasions � ...

, which caught the attention of adventurers, explorers, and settlers. They eventually came to these shores in search of gold, gems, and other valuable products. Thus began the exploration of a territory so vast and difficult to access, that to date the territory has several areas that very few people have seen.

Park creation

Due to the richness and diversity of the biology, mineralogy, and geography region, the

Government of Venezuela Venezuela is a federal presidential republic. The chief executive is the President of Venezuela who is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the President. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembl ...

decided that it was necessary to protect the territory. For this reason, Canaima was declared a National Park by Executive Order No. 770 dated June 12, 1962. The park is the second largest in Venezuela. The Canaima National Park now covers an area of about , which places it among the six largest national parks in the world. However, its original area was , and did not include the territory of the Gran Sabana. Entrada Gran sabana

It was enlarged in 1975 to cover several points of high ecological importance. Among those sites are the Carrao River Basin, the headwaters of the

Caroní River The Caroní River is the second most important river of Venezuela, the second in flow, and one of the longest, from the Kukenan tepui through to its confluence with the Orinoco River. The name "Caroní" is applied starting from the confluenc ...

, the Sierra de Lema, the source of the Cuyuni River, and the rolling plains which form the Gran Sabana. Currently, the territory of the Gran Sabana is , as shown in the image of the park entrance sign. Currently, the Gran Sabana remains a place of high ecological value.

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

proclaimed Canaima National Park a

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

in 1994. It is a place of high value to the Venezuela government, which promotes conservation and exploration, and to the people of Venezuela. Thousands of tourists visit the place every year. They can enjoy the variety of natural wonders in the park and delight both for the beauty of its places of interest (including the landscapes of the tepuis, waterfalls, and streams), and its diversity of

fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...

and

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

. The latter attract many scholars and scientists from around the world. Forty percent of the species of Venezuela are found only in the Gran Sabana, and 23% in terms of

reptile Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...

s and

amphibian Amphibians are ectothermic, anamniote, anamniotic, tetrapod, four-limbed vertebrate animals that constitute the class (biology), class Amphibia. In its broadest sense, it is a paraphyletic group encompassing all Tetrapod, tetrapods, but excl ...

s, with many endemic species. The largest city in the area is

Santa Elena de Uairén Santa Elena de Uairén () is a small Venezuelan city (29,795 inhabitants in 2006) in the state of Bolívar State (Venezuela), Bolívar near the border with Brazil and Guyana. It was founded by Lucas Fernández Peña in 1923. The city's name origin ...

, which has experienced very rapid growth, with a population of over 30,000 inhabitants. It was founded in 1923 by Lucas Fernández Peña, attracted by the growth of

diamond Diamond is a Allotropes of carbon, solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of e ...

production in the area. Its average temperature is between . It is above sea level, is from the border with Brazil, from

Ciudad Guayana Ciudad Guayana () (English: Guayana City) is a city in Bolívar State (Venezuela), Bolívar State, Venezuela. It stretches 40 kilometers along the south bank of the Orinoco, Orinoco river, at the point where it is joined by its main tributary ...

, and about from

Caracas Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...

, by a paved road. The total population of the Gran Sabana is currently estimated at 48,000.

Geology

The Gran Sabana formed atop the

Precambrian The Precambrian ( ; or pre-Cambrian, sometimes abbreviated pC, or Cryptozoic) is the earliest part of Earth's history, set before the current Phanerozoic Eon. The Precambrian is so named because it preceded the Cambrian, the first period of t ...

Guyana Shield, with the

bedrock In geology, bedrock is solid rock that lies under loose material ( regolith) within the crust of Earth or another terrestrial planet. Definition Bedrock is the solid rock that underlies looser surface material. An exposed portion of bed ...

consisting of the Roraima Group, presumed to be 1.8–1.4 Ga in age. Within this Group is the resistant Mataui Formation, which forms the tepui cliffs and summits. The formation is thick and consists of

quartzite Quartzite is a hard, non- foliated metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone.Essentials of Geology, 3rd Edition, Stephen Marshak, p 182 Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tecton ...

and quartzite arenites. Tepui summits are above the surrounding terrain. The low area surrounding the table mountains is Wonkén

Planation Surface In geology and geomorphology a planation surface is a large-scale land surface that is almost flat with the possible exception of some residual hills. The processes that form planation surfaces are labelled collectively planation and are exogeni ...

. The Auyán-Tepui Planation Surface forms the quartzite tepui summits. High precipitation combined with the long period of weathering has produced quartz and sandstone

karst Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...

features. These include arches, towers, tower fields, dolines, collapse shafts,

polje A polje, also called karst polje or karst field, is a large flat plain found in karstic geological regions of the world, with areas usually in the range of 5–400 km2 (2–154 sq mi). The name derives from the Slavic languages, ...

, corridors, grikes, and large cave systems extending many kilometers in length. The Roraima Sur–Los Ojos de Cristal cave system is long and up to in diameter. Some portions of the summits have been described as Ruinform, meaning landscapes resembling ancient ruins.

Geography

This region was subjected to several periods of uplift and subsidence and were subjected to variable erosion. The large remaining isolated sandstone beds are called "

s" in the language of the indigenous inhabitants of the region. The road of

goes from an elevation of in less than , in a place called "La Escalera" (a rise with a paved street). The formation of rocky and sandy soils support a savanna vegetation on the higher elevations with dense

jungle jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅgala'' ...

vegetation occurs in depressions and dense forests along the rivers. 360 Panoramic view from Kavanayen - Canaima National Park

Hydrography

La Gran Sabana, and the rest of Venezuela in general, is rich in river networks. The main drainage sub-basins are formed by the rivers Yuruaní, Aponwao, Kukenán, Suruku, Ikabarú, Karuay, Urimán, and Antabare. Yuruani tepuy y rio - Gran sabana

The

, of in length, and flow rate equal to , provides Venezuela with most of its

electricity Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwel ...

hydropower Hydropower (from Ancient Greek -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to Electricity generation, produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by energy transformation, ...

exploitation; it originates from several tributaries coming from tepuis and mountains of the Gran Sabana (the Aponwao, the Yuruaní and the Kukenan). The vast majority of rivers and streams in the region are of dark waters, with coloration similar to that of tea. The waters are very poor in dissolved nutrients and rich in humic acids and

tannins Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' is widely applied to any large po ...

, which give them its characteristic brown color. The acidity is quite high, reaching pH of 3–4.

Tepuis

In the Gran Sabana, there are randomly distributed ancient massifs eroded in tabular form, known as tepuis. These are examples of inverted relief, which form a kind of typical plateau of the Guiana highlands. These plateaus, in the Gran Sabana, reach their maximum altitude in the Tepui Roraima, whose peak is nearly above sea level.

Auyantepui

Although the Auyantepui is not part of the Gran Sabana as the exact delimitation of the territory, it is considered by many to be part of it, being the most famous tepui throughout Guiana. It is in the Canaima Northwest and is one of the most recognized tepuis in the world, because from it comes

Angel Falls Angel Falls (; Pemon: ''Kerepakupai Merú'' or ''Parakupá Vená'') is a waterfall in Venezuela. It is the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of , and a plunge of . The waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyán-tepui m ...

, the highest waterfall in the world with an almost freefall. Auyan Tepui 01

These Falls were first made known to non-indigenous people by the U.S.-born explorer-aviator Jimmy Angel in 1937. He attempted to land his plane on top of Auyantepui, crashing (without fatalities) in one of his expeditions. It is the second-largest Guiana tepui, with a surface of , after Chimantá. It has an altitude of . Auyantepui is inclined on its surface: on the southern edge it exceeds , while the northern edge is barely high. It is possible to access the southern part of Auyantepui and climb it. In some sections of the trip it is necessary to use ropes to climb, although the difficulty level is not high. To make the ascent to the tepui, it is necessary to reach the village of Kavak by plane or helicopter, as there are no vehicle access routes to the tepui.

Chimantá Massif

The Chimantá Massif is the formation of plateaus (10 in total, including Amurí, Churí, and Akopán-tepui) and is the largest in Venezuela, at . The tepui is not easily accessible, and is rarely visited by tourists. It is in the central-western Canaima. Recently, the Venezuelan scientist Charles Brewer Carías, while flying over the massif, discovered a huge entrance to a cave. A species of frog, '' Colostethus breweri'', was names in his honor.

Mount Roraima

Mount Roraima Mount Roraima (; ) is the highest of the Pacaraima chain of tepuis (table-top mountain) or plateaux in South America. It is located at the junction of Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. A characteristic large flat-topped mountain surrounded by cliff ...

is the highest tepui of the National Park. It is also known as Blue Mountain or Crystal Mountain, and is considered by the local indigenous population as a divinity. The

Pemon The Pemon or Pemón (Pemong) are Indigenous people living in areas of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana.See pp.112,113 and 178 of ''Venezuela: the Pemon'', in '' Condé Nast Traveler'', December 2008. The Pemon people are divided into many dialects ...

believe that most tepuis host powerful spirits or entities which they respect and fear. Some of them even make offerings and prayers at the top in their infrequent visits to the tepui (usually as tour guides in exchange for money and/or food). Its height is about , and it covers an area of . Its walls, completely vertical, may reach high. Roraima Elefante

Despite this, over this wall, it is an outstanding area, with tilt and space for tourists to climb to the top. Among the attractions are the Valley of the Crystals (a deposit of quartz formations), the Jacuzzi area (where water wells of greenish-yellow color), the viewpoints of La Ventana and El Abismo, the North Mazes, la Proa, Lake Gladys, and the "Triple Point". This point is in the northeast of the tepui, and is the place where the borders of Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana meet. There are also spectacular rock formations eroded by wind, leading to myriad interpretations of figures, such as the "flying turtle", the "Mexican hat", the "monkey eating an ice cream cone", and the "elephant".

Kukenan (Matawi-tepui)

Incorrectly named and widely known as Kukenan-tepui, this plateau is in reality known as Matawi-tepui. It has a height of and was first climbed in 1963 in an expedition organized by the University of Bangor,

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. The second ascent was not until 1972 by Stephen Platt, Ramon Blanco, Hans Swartz, and Ambrosio Perez. The Matawi-Tepui chain belongs to the eastern tepuis of the Gran Sabana, along with the Yuruani-tepui. It is also the location of Kukenan Falls, listed as the tenth-highest waterfall in the world with of freefall. Kukenan Roraima GS

Other tepuis

Other recognized tepuis are in the chain Ilú-Tramén-Karaurín, as well as the Wadaka-piapó (or Wadakapiapü) and the Yuruaní, which together with the Kukenan and Roraima, are in the chain of the 7 eastern tepuis. These also highlight the tepuis Iglú-tepui, Ptarí-tepui, Acopán-tepui and the Sororopán-tepui, which has a tilt feature, and can be climbed. Tramen Tepui (2,700 m) in the Ilú–Tramen Massif was first climbed by Scharlie Wraight and Stephen Platt from the col between Ilu Tepui and Tramen Tepui on 24 November 1981. There are a large number of minor tepuis, which can be found throughout the whole of Canaima; the total of these is around 150. Most tepuis reach heights ranging between .

Climate

Temperature

Due to the elevation of Gran Sabana, about on average, the

weather Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloud cover, cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmo ...

is quite pleasant, mild with average annual temperature of , similar to the valley of

However, due to cloud cover and

rainfall Rain is a form of precipitation where water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. ...

, which abounds throughout the year, the average annual temperature is lower, with daily temperature variations. Minimum temperatures rarely drop below (except on top of the tepuis, which are exposed overnight). Usually, the maximum temperature does not exceed . Diagrama clima Santa Elena

Precipitation

The rainy season lasts about 10 months, with a period of relative drought between January and March with annual average between of rain (twice what is observed in the Venezuelan capital). This measure varies along the savanna area; in the south, the average drops to between of rain, while in the north it varies between , and in the south-east it is above .

Winds

Visitors to the Gran Sabana may notice strong winds to finish up the area of La Escalera and see for the first time large areas of savanna. Compared to the average weather of Venezuela, the site has relatively favorable and cool winds, creating a comfortable feeling. Climate variation is determined by altitude and winds, as the

latitude In geography, latitude is a geographic coordinate system, geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from −90° at t ...

(between 4° and 8° north) of the site falls within the equatorial belt. The area further north in its lower part is subject to the influence of winds from the east and northeast, resulting in a rainy season and drought season. The south, by contrast, is affected by wet winds from the

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...

depression and Southeast, which condense when in contact with elevations, producing heavy rains.

Flora and vegetation

The savannas occupy undisputed first place in the diverse range of ecosystems that developed in the region. But the Gran Sabana includes a variety of biomes, subject to a complex mix of climatic and ecological conditions ranging from hot lowlands to the high cold mountains. It thus has developed a considerable number of plant species adapted to its

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...

s. The vegetation is characterized as particular to the region and based on very acidic soils derived from the decomposition of the sandstones. The

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...

s and gallery

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

s are situated along the courses of rivers and streams that traverse the savannas. These forests have a very varied vegetation where there are trees, shrubs, guacos,

epiphyte An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...

s, and the Moriche Palm. Shrubs rarely exceed high. Leaves are mostly thick, probably due to the soil's acidity and lack of nutrients. La Gran Sabana has a variety of grasses. As the ground has many rocks and is sandy, the grasses are unsuitable for feeding livestock. The most important plant families are

Theaceae Theaceae (), the tea family, is a family of flowering plants comprising shrubs and trees, including the economically important tea plant, and the ornamental camellias. It can be described as having from seven to 40 genera, depending on the sour ...

, Humiriaceae,

Ericaceae The Ericaceae () are a Family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with about 4,250 known species spread acros ...

Compositae Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...

, Aquifoliaceae,

Burseraceae The Burseraceae are a moderate-sized family of 17-19 genera and about 540 species of woody flowering plants. The actual numbers given in taxonomic sources differ according to taxonomic revision at the time of writing. The Burseraceae are also ...

, and

Sapotaceae 240px, '' Madhuca longifolia'' var. ''latifolia'' in Narsapur, Medak district, India The Sapotaceae are a family of flowering plants belonging to the order (biology)">order Ericales">family (biology)">family of flowering plants belonging to th ...

On the summits of the tepuis, despite the hostile environment (especially on

), there is a wide variety of plants, ranging from to high. In the turbulent rivers and waterfalls, plants that grow on the rocks have peculiar carpets that are green or tan. These are

Spermatophyte A seed plant or spermatophyte (; New Latin ''spermat-'' and Greek ' (phytón), plant), also known as a phanerogam (taxon Phanerogamae) or a phaenogam (taxon Phaenogamae), is any plant that produces seeds. It is a category of embryophyte (i.e. la ...

plants of the family

Podostemaceae Podostemaceae (riverweed family), a family in the order Malpighiales, comprise about 50 genera and species of more or less thalloid aquatic herbs. Distribution and habitat They are found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide ...

. From above sea level, one begins to observe the submontane evergreen forests ombrophilous, upper-middle-high () thick and well developed

understory In forestry and ecology, understory (American English), or understorey (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), also known as underbrush or undergrowth, includes plant life growing beneath the Canopy (biology), forest ca ...

. At at the foot of the cliffs within large tepui grow ombrophilous montane forests of evergreens, including low tepui forests above . These form dense communities at medium-to-high altitudes, with undergrowth closed, sometimes with many epiphytes. At the summit of the Auyantepui and the Massif Chimantá there are several kinds of plants that do not grow anywhere else in the world, such as the genera ''

Brocchinia ''Brocchinia'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, and is the sole genus of the subfamily Brocchinioideae, containing 20 species. The genus is named for Giovanni Battista Brocchi, Italian naturalist (1772–1826). ''Brocchinia'' s ...

'' (family

Bromeliaceae The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, ...

), '' Tepuia'' (Ericaceae), '' Mallophyton'' (

Melastomataceae Melastomataceae () is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera and c. 5115 known species. Melastomes are annual or perennial herbs ...

), '' Coryphothamnus'' and '' Aphanocarpus'' (

Rubiaceae Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with Petiole ( ...

), and '' Arimantaea'' and '' Achnopogon'' (

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

). Many of the rarest species are found on exposed sandstone formations. Furthermore, in shady and protected areas beneath the rocks and in small cavities, are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

ferns of the genus '' Hymenophyllopsis'' and '' Pterozonium''. The native flora is one of the biggest attractions for botanical researchers.

Carnivorous plant Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods, and occasionally small mammals and birds. They have adapted to grow in waterlo ...

communities of the genera ''

Heliamphora The genus ''Heliamphora'' ( or ; Greek language, Greek: ''helos'' "marsh" and ''amphoreus'' "amphora") contains 24 species of pitcher plants endemism, endemic to South America.McPherson, S., A. Wistuba, A. Fleischmann & J. Nerz 2011. ''Sarracenia ...

'' (Venezuelan pitcher plants), ''

Drosera ''Drosera'', which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genus, genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. 2 volumes. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucil ...

'' (sundews), and ''

Utricularia ''Utricularia'', commonly and collectively called the bladderworts, is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of approximately 233 species (precise counts differ based on classification opinions; a 2001 publication lists 215 species).Salmon, B ...

'' (bladderworts) are found rooted within the bedrock, where there exists an extremely thin layer of nutrient-deficient debris and dirt. This naturally-poor substrate has thus stimulated these plant genera to evolve insectivorous habits to supplement their photosynthetic processes.

Fauna

Despite the high rate of

biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...

found in the Gran Sabana, it is not easy or common for visitors to observe larger animals, such as on the road between

and

, as the forest is far more open along that route; many of the local animals are nervous and wary of people (and predators), preferring to hide within the forest islands,

riparian zone A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. In some regions, the terms riparian woodland, riparian forest, riparian buffer zone, riparian corridor, and riparian strip are used to characterize a ripari ...

s, and in the deeper areas of montane jungle at the base of the tepuis. Oreophrynella quelchii

However, many species (several of them highly endangered) are still able to be seen in the Gran Sabana, including at least 25 species of mammal: *Amazonian brown brocket deer ('' Mazama nemorivaga'') *Black-bearded saki ('' Chiropotes satanas'') *Bush dog ('' Speothos venaticus'') *Capybara ('' Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') *Collared peccary ('' Pecari tajacu'') *Colombian red howler ('' Alouatta seniculus'') *Common red brocket deer ('' Mazama americana'') *Crab-eating fox ( ''Cerdocyon thous'') *Flat-faced fruit-eating bat ( ''Artibeus planirostris'') *Free-tailed bats ( Molossinae sp.) *Giant anteater ('' Myrmecophaga tridactyla'') *Giant armadillo ('' Priodontes maximus'') *Giant otter ('' Pteronura brasiliensis'') *Guyana red howler ('' Alouatta macconnelli'') *Jaguar (''

Panthera onca The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus ''Panthera'' that is native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the biggest cat species in the Americas a ...

'') *Kinkajou ('' Potos flavus'') *Long-tailed weasel ('' Neogale frenata'') *Margay ('' Leopardus wiedii'') *Nine-banded armadillo ('' Dasypus novemcinctus'') *Ocelot (''

Leopardus pardalis The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted Felidae, wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, Central and South America, ...

'') *Prehensile-tailed porcupine ('' Coendou'' sp.) *Puma (''

Puma concolor The cougar (''Puma concolor'') (, '' KOO-gər''), also called puma, mountain lion, catamount and panther is a large small cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North, Central and South America, making it the most widely distributed wil ...

'') *Red-rumped agouti ('' Dasyprocta leporina'') *Short-tailed bat (''

Carollia ''Carollia'' is a genus of bats often referred to as the short-tailed fruit bats. Along with the genus '' Rhinophylla'', ''Carollia'' makes up the subfamily Carolliinae of family Phyllostomidae, the leaf-nosed bats. Currently, nine species of ...

'' sp.) *South American coati ('' Nasua nasua'') *South American tapir ('' Tapirus terrestris'') *Southern naked-tailed armadillo ('' Cabassous unicinctus'') *Southern opossum ('' Didelphis marsupialis'') *Spotted paca ('' Cuniculis paca'') *Tamandua ('' Tamandua tetradactyla'') *Tayra ('' Eira barbara'') *Tyler's mouse opossum ('' Marmosa tyleriana'') *Weeper capuchin ('' Cebus olivaceus'') *White-faced saki ('' Pithecia pithecia'') Avifauna is even more varied, with around 85-100 species present, including the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock ('' R. rupicola'') and the intimidating harpy eagle ('' H. harpyja''). Among the several dozen species of

s are

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s, such as the giant ameiva ('' A. ameiva''), grass anoles ('' A. auratus''), green iguanas ('' I. iguana''), rainbow whiptails ( ''C. lemniscatus''), striped kentropyx ('' K. striata''), and Peter's lava lizard ('' T. hispidus''), among others;

snake Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...

s are abundant, including

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

species, such as the neotropical rattlesnake ('' C. durissus'') and the speckled forest pit viper ('' B. taeniatus''), and constrictors, like the green anaconda ('' E. murinus'') and the red-tailed (''

Boa constrictor The boa constrictor (scientific name also ''Boa constrictor''), also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the Family (b ...

'') and brown rainbow boas ('' E. maurus''). Other snake species found in Gran Sabana include the brown sipo ('' C. fuscus''), the forest flame snake ('' O. petolarius''), Oliver's parrot snake ('' L. coeruleodorsus''), snail-eating snakes (''

Dipsas ''Dipsas'' is a genus of nonvenomous New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus ''Sibynomorphus'' has been moved here. Species of the genus ''Dipsas'' are known as snail-eaters. Taxonomy The genus ''Dipsas'' ...

'' sp.), cutlass snakes ('' P. sexcarinatus''), and the pineapple cuaima ('' Lachesis muta muta''). Dozens of species of

s live in the area, including the "bumblebee" (or black-and-yellow) poison dart frog ('' D. leucomelas'').

Ethnic groups

Little pemon girls - Venezuela - Gran Sabana

The

are the largest group of indigenous people in the region. They are scattered throughout the Canaima National Park and are divided into three groups: Arekunas, Taurepanes, and Kamarakotos. They are the native inhabitants of the Gran Sabana and today many work in the tourism industry, manage and administer inns, and serve as guides on expeditions in the region. The number of native inhabitants of la Gran Sabana is not known exactly. However, the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

carried out by INE in 2001 revealed the presence of a total of 42,600 indigenous people statewide in Bolívar, of which the vast majority live in the Gran Sabana.

Languages

The language of almost all the indigenous peoples of the area is

, a language of the Carib family related to the extinct Caribs, and Tamanaco and Chaimas. Most of them also speak

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

. However, there is a large non-indigenous population that speaks Spanish. In

, in the area near the Brazilian border, it is common to find people who speak Portuguese.

Towns and communities

Santa Elena de Uairén

As already mentioned, the main town is Santa Elena de Uairén, which is also the capital of the Gran Sabana Municipality. The city's name originated in the first daughter of the founder, Lucas Fernández Peña, called "Elena", and on the river that crosses the city, the "Uairén". It has an airport and a military post and became a free port in 1999, organized and founded by the son of the founder, Professor Héctor Fernández Espinoza. Its economy is based on trade and mining. Recently, the tourism sector has been an important development because of its proximity to the main natural features of the Gran Sabana and its location near the border. The city has had a rapid population growth during the last decade and it is estimated that by 2016 the population of the town will be around 55,000. Several hotels that are involved in tourism with limited resources are spread through the center of the city. The Hotel Gran Sabana is a luxury option, like the Hotel Anaconda. In the center of the city, tourists can find many shops where they can buy supplies for camping in the national park, from canned or fresh food, to spare normal camping equipment. Many are also the business of buying and selling gold in the village. Capilla Sta teresita Kavanayen

Kavanayén

Kavanayén (Santa Teresita de Kavanayén) is an indigenous village inhabited mainly by the

people. Currently it is estimated that about 30,000 people live in the town. It is in the boundaries of Canaima National Park in the Gran Sabana Municipality, in the Upper

. The Capuchin missionaries founded the town of Kavanayén in 1943. The buildings of the town are built with the technique developed by missionaries with stone taken from the area. One of the most important architectural attractions of the community is the Shrine of Santa Teresita de Kavanayén, but it has other buildings of significant size and importance, such as a presidential residence where visiting presidents can stay for short periods, a beacon station, and a generating turbine for hydroelectric power.

El Paují

The community of El Paují is south of Bolivar State, about west of Santa Elena de Uairén, on the road that leads to Icabarú and very close to the border with Brazil. In El Paují the streets are not paved. The town has power, but the build system is switched off shortly before midnight. Almost all households have their own generators. There is no cell phone service or coverage, but there is a communications center which can access the internet. The community also has an airstrip, medications, a rescue group, and a school. For tourists there are inns and eating places. In the community there are around 500 people, many of them professionals and retirees. Among them there are craftsmen, adventurers, miners, and beekeepers.

San Francisco de Yuruaní (Kumaracapai)

San Francisco de Yuruaní, an indigenous community in the "km 250" of the Troncal 10, is an important craft-selling place, and offers refueling for tourists. The name in the native language of the community is Kumarakapay. The town offers various items of tourist tat, including bracelets and necklaces. Tourists can find there a large sample of mineral stones common in Bolivar state, as auriferous

quartz Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). The Atom, atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen Tetrahedral molecular geometry, tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tet ...

, rose quartz,

slate Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade, regional metamorphism. It is the finest-grained foliated metamorphic ro ...

iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...

bauxite Bauxite () is a sedimentary rock with a relatively high aluminium content. It is the world's main source of aluminium and gallium. Bauxite consists mostly of the aluminium minerals gibbsite (), boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)), and diaspore (α-AlO(OH) ...

silicon Silicon is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid (sometimes considered a non-metal) and semiconductor. It is a membe ...

, jet, and

ruffe The ruffe (''Gymnocephalus cernua''), also known as the Eurasian ruffe or pope, is a freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It has been introduced into the Great Lakes of North America as an invasive species ...

, among others. In the restaurants of the community can sample typical foods. The small town has several services, including lodging, groceries, restaurants, and health supplies. It is also possible to organize trips and excursions to other parts of Canaima National Park.

Other communities

Among other less important communities may be mentioned San Rafael de Kamoirán, where are the Rapids Kamoirán, Wönken, known for its Capuchin missions, Paraitepuy of Roraima, where the walk starts normally to the tepui, and Iboriwo or Liwöriwö, where visitors can camp and visit the Aponwao Falls. Other sites closer to the Canaima area include Kavak, Kamarata, Pupurken, Guayaraca, and Uruyén. These communities offer the possibility to the visitors of

trekking Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain hu ...

in the area, or climbing Auyantepui, being the pemones guides with extensive knowledge of the area.

Tourism

Access and movement in la Gran Sabana

To reach the Gran Sabana, it is necessary to pass the paved road (called Troncal 10) that passes through Ciudad Guayana and reaches the Brazilian border. Just before arriving at the Gran Sabana, it passes La Escalera, an uphill road with several curves and immersed in a typically rainy and foggy forest. Once past that section, there is a paved road that runs through the Gran Sabana. There are other ways to access other sites, but are not paved. Tourists can also take a plane to Santa Elena de Uairén. They can reach this town by paved road from Caracas, or from Brazil through Pacaraima, traveling along the highway BR174, which connects

Manaus Manaus () is the List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil, capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Amazonas (Brazilian state), Amazonas. It is the List of largest cities in Brazil, seventh-largest city in Brazil, w ...

(some away from Santa Helena) and Boa Vista (approximately ) with the Venezuela–Brazil border. Currently, bus service exists between Ciudad Guayana and Santa Elena de Uairén, but car travel is recommended to allow for frequent stops in interesting places. The journey from Caracas is usually done in two days. Some of the most attractive places can be reached only by

four-wheel-drive A four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, is a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case provi ...

vehicles. Such is the case in places like Torón and Toroncito, Rapids Sakaika, Rapids Anaway, Rapids Käk, the town of Paraitepuy de Roraima, and several sites of interest in the way to Ikabarú. Quebrada_de_Jaspe_en_Canaima

To reach the town of Kavak, it is necessary to travel by air. In the second half of 2011, however, vehicles were banned from some of the unpaved roads, such as at the River Torón. This measure was taken by the Government, because the soil condition was badly damaged by the passage of four-wheel-drive vehicles. The most important falls, and easier access on the main road, that can be reached without four-wheel-drive vehicles are the Falls Kama or "Kama-Merú" in Pemon language, Falls Pacheco or "Arapan-Merú" and Jasper Creek or "Kako Paru". Via Liworiwo

Another issue to consider traveling in the Gran Sabana is the supply of gasoline. There are few suppliers of fuel, and not every one is always open. For foreign tourists the fuel supply is not guaranteed, because the government guarantees gasoline only for Venezuelans. There is also differentiation of supply for Venezuelan tourists and locals; due to smuggling, gasoline in Brazil has a much higher value than in Venezuela. The same problem of illegal purchase and sale of gasoline is present before the entrance to the Gran Sabana, on the Venezuelan side, in the town of San Isidro, also known as "Km 88". Visitors can lose hours to fill a vehicle fuel in high season. Because of these difficulties, it is recommended that tourists carry pimpinas or drums, properly identified with the red color for safety and security reasons. Some tranches can be done in "curiaras", which are boats carved in wood, manned by local people. Despite being managed by pemones, these boats may have engines to reduce travel time. Such is the case of access to Falls Aponwao, one of the most renowned in the Gran Sabana, with a fall of about . To get to the falls, visitors must travel by car to the camp Liwöriwö by dirt roads, and then take the curiara (a journey of about 20 minutes) until the fall. Another popular tourist activity, albeit at a price making it somewhat less accessible, is to fly by helicopter or plane. Visitors can take flights from many places, however, the most common is to take off from Santa Elena de Uairén, where there are local agencies. Some plans include tours on tepuis Roraima and Kukenan, visits to waterfalls, overlooking Auyantepuy with overflight of

, and camp visits of Canaima, to places which are not accessible by vehicle.

Sites of interest

* Falls Aponwao (Chinak-meru) * Falls Kamá (Kamá Meru) * Falls Kamá (Kamá Mesalto) * Falls Kawi (Kawí merú) * Falls Kukenan * Falls Yuruaní * Falls Karuay * Km "88" * La Laja * El Paují * El Abismo * Santa Elena de Uairén * Mission of Kavanayén

Photo gallery

References

External links

* * https://web.archive.org/web/20100829190824/http://lagransabana.travel/en * http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284936 * http://www.venezuelatuya.com/gransabana/indexeng.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20120915101241/https://web.archive.org/web/20120915101241/http://www.inparques.gob.ve/ (in Spanish) {{coord, 6, 15, 00, N, 62, 50, 18, W, region:VE-F_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title category:Geographical regions of Venezuela Geography of Venezuela Geography of Bolívar (state) Guianan savanna