Angel Falls is a waterfall in Venezuela. It is the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 metres (3,212 ft), and a plunge of 807 m (2,648 ft). The waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyán-tepui mountain in the Canaima National Park. The height figure, 979 m (3,212 ft), mostly consists of the main plunge but also includes about 400 metres (1,300 ft) of sloped cascade and rapids below the drop and a 30-metre-high (100 ft) plunge downstream of the talus rapids.
The falls are along a fork of the Río Kerepacupai Merú which flows into the Churún River.
History:
– The waterfall has been known as Angel Falls since the mid-20th century; they are named after Jimmie Angel, a U.S. aviator, who was the first person to fly over the falls. Angel’s ashes were scattered over the falls on 2 July 1960.
– In 2009, President Hugo Chávez announced his intention to change the name to the purported original indigenous Pemon term (“Kerepakupai-Merú”, meaning “waterfall of the deepest place”).
– They were not known to the outside world until American aviator Jimmie Angel, following directions given by Cardona, flew over them on 16 November 1933 on a flight while he was searching for a valuable ore bed.
– Returning on 9 October 1937, Angel tried to land his Flamingo monoplane El Río Caroní atop Auyán-tepui, but the plane was damaged when the wheels sank into the marshy ground. Angel and his three companions, including his wife Marie, were forced to descend the tepui on foot. It took them 11 days to make their way back to civilization by the gradually sloping back side, but news of their adventure spread and the waterfall was named Angel Falls in his honor.
– Angel’s plane remained on top of the tepui for 33 years before being lifted out by helicopter.
– Before the mid-1950s, the falls were an unknown wonder. Even the indigenous Kamarakotos Pómon tribe who occupied the valley beside Auyán-tepu stayed away, believing that Angel Falls’ remote location harbored malign spirits.
– In 1933, air-borne American gold prospector James Crawford (‘Jimmie’) Angel discovered Angel Falls accidentally, flying over the mountain in his Flamingo monoplane while in search of a valuable ore bed.
– In 1937, Jimmie returned to the falls, his second wife, Marie, and acquaintances Gustavo Henry and Miguel Delgado also aboard his jittery, fixed-wing plane. Although Jimmie landed his plane successfully on Auyán-tepu’s heart-shaped summit, the plane’s wheels became submerged in mud, and Jimmie’s aircraft remained marooned atop the mountain until 1970.
– For 11 days, the group trekked across rough terrain, having to ration their limited food supplies, until they reached a small settlement at Kamarata. Word spread of Jimmie’s exploits and the falls were duly named after him. The tale piqued international interest in Angel Falls and many scientific investigations followed.
Tourism:
Angel Falls is one of Venezuela’s top tourist attractions, though a trip to the falls is a complicated affair. The falls are located in an isolated jungle. A flight from Maiquetia Airport, Puerto Ordaz, or Ciudad Bolívar is required to reach Canaima camp, the starting point for river trips to the base of the falls. River trips generally take place from June to December, when the rivers are deep enough for use by the Pemon guides. During the dry season (December to March), the volume of water is less than in other months.
MEDIA:
– Angel Falls was the main inspiration for the fictional Paradise Falls in Pixar’s animated film, Up.
– The American fantasy-romance film What Dreams May Come (1998), starring Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Annabella Sciorra, is set in Venezuela and shows Angel Falls.
– Angel Falls was used as a setting for a scene in the action film Point Break (2015); actors Edgar Ramirez and Luke Bracey free-climb the Falls.
– In the film narrated by Lowell Thomas, Seven Wonders of the World (1956), Angel Falls was included as one of the seven wonders.
– The 1990 film Arachnophobia was partly set at Angel Falls.
– Angel Falls was briefly seen in Walt Disney Feature Animation’s film Dinosaur.
Fun Facts:
– This breathtakingly beautiful waterfall is 16 times the height of Niagara Falls and one of Venezuela’s top tourist draws.
– During the rainy season, Angel Falls creates its own weather.
– Angel Falls is three times as tall as Paris landmark, the Eiffel Tower.
– Canaima National Park is divided into two sections: west and east.
Interesting Facts:
– Angel Falls is in fact the highest waterfall in the World. In Spanish, it’s name is Salto Angel and it falls from a height of 3230 feet with an uninterrupted drop of an incredible 2647 feet.
– During the rainy season, Angel Falls creates its own weather. At certain times of year, those within a one-kilometre radius of the falls can feel mist settling on their skin.
– Angel Falls is three times as tall as Paris landmark, the Eiffel Tower.
– Canaima National Park is divided into two sections: west and east. Angel Falls is located in the western sector.
– Tourists have only been permitted to visit Angel Falls since 1990. The first visitors to Angel Falls stayed in the Boulton Camp, which is now known as Campamento Canaima.
– Jimmy Angel’s plane can be seen at the Aeronautics Museum of Maracay.
