Upuigma-tepui, also known as El Castillo, is a
tepui in
Bolívar state,
Venezuela.
[Huber, O. (1995). Geographical and physical features. In: P.E. Berry, B.K. Holst & K. Yatskievych (eds.) '' Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Volume 1. Introduction.'' Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. pp. 1–61.] A relatively isolated peak, both it and nearby
Angasima-tepui lie just south of the vast
Chimantá Massif, from which they are separated by the
Río Aparurén valley.
Upuigma-tepui is situated entirely within the bounds of
Canaima National Park
Canaima National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Canaima) is a park in south-eastern Venezuela that roughly occupies the same area as the Gran Sabana region. It is located in Bolívar State, reaching the borders with Brazil and Guyana.
History
Ca ...
.
The imposing peak of Upuigma-tepui has an elevation of around . Its highly uneven summit is dotted with numerous rock towers and deep
crevasses which make it practically impossible to traverse. Summit vegetation is predominantly in the form of tepui
scrub
Scrub(s) may refer to:
* Scrub, low shrub and grass characteristic of scrubland
* Scrubs (clothing), worn by medical staff
* ''Scrubs'' (TV series), an American television program
* Scrubs (occupation), also called "scrub tech," "scrub nurse," ...
and dense stands of herbaceous plants. The mountain has a summit area of and an estimated slope area of .
The first documented people to climb Upuigma-tepui were John Arran, Ivan Calderon and
Steve Backshall, in 2007. Upon reaching the summit, they discovered several previously unknown species of plants and animals.
Lost Land Of The Jaguar - The First Ascent of Upuigma Tepuis in Venezuela for BBC Natural History Unit
Adventure Camera.
See also
* Distribution of ''Heliamphora''
References
Further reading
* Brewer-Carías, C. (2010)
El origen de los tepuyes: los hijos de las estrellas
''Río Verde'' 3: 54–69.
* La Cruz, L. (February–April 2010)
Iván Calderon y su mundo vertical
''Río Verde'' 1: 98–115.
Tepuis of Venezuela
Mountains of Venezuela
Mountains of Bolívar (state)
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