Angel Falls or Salto Angel Falls is not as popular as Niagara Falls, although in fact the beauty of the highest waterfall in the world is no less than Niagara Falls.
Based on measurements made by the National Geographic Society in 1949, Angel Fall is known to have a height of 979 m (3,212 feets) measured from the top of the waterfall. While the height of the waterfall that flows down vertically without obstacles is around 807 m (ie the height of the water that flows down vertically without being obstructed by rocks or the like). The width of Angel Falls is approximately 150 m.
Salto Angel Falls is located in the State of Bolivar, Venezuela. The highest waterfall in the world is located in an area called La Gran Sabana, an area of 10,820 km² which is part of the Canaima National Park (Canaima National Park), Venezuela.
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Auyan Tepui and Angel Falls |
The flat-shaped peak area of Auyan Tepui is estimated at 666.9 km². Despite its flat shape, the plateau of the Auyan Tepui peak is actually not flat but very sloping. Therefore the height of the mountain peaks varies. On the northwestern side, the elevation is only 1,600 m, but on the southeastern side, Auyan Tepui can reach 2,450 m.
Angel Falls flows from a gap near the top of Ayuan Tepui. The environment around Angel Falls is covered by dense forest, therefore this waterfall is not clearly visible from below. Angel Falls is also often covered in fog that covers the peak area of Auyan Tepui.
Angel Falls flows into the small river Rio Kerepacupai Meru which is a tributary of the Churun River. The Churun River then merges into the Carrao River, from there the water continues to flow into the Caroni River, then the Caroni River flows into the Orinoco River.
Angel Falls is named after its discoverer, James Crawford Angel from the USA. This waterfall is also known as Salto Angel or Salto del Angel in Spanish. Angel Falls is named Kerepakupai Meru which means 'The Waterfall of the Deepest Place' in the Pemon language, a language commonly spoken by the Pemon people who live in southeastern Venezuela, including the Canaima National Park area. Angel Falls is also known as Parakupa Vena which means 'Fall From the Highest Point'.
James Crawford Angel or Jimmie Angel is an aviator who is looking for a gold mine location. In 1936, James Angel returned and landed his plane near a waterfall that was not known before, and later named Angel Fall (Angel Falls).
Actually James Crawford Angel was not the first discoverer of this waterfall, because in the early 20th century an explorer named Ernesto de Santa Cruz had discovered it first. However, the new Angel waterfall became known to the world after it was discovered by James Crawford Angel.
The Pemon Indians who live around the location of this waterfall call the mountain where Angel Waterfall flows falls as "Auyan-tepui" ("Aiyan-tepui") which means "Devil's Mountain". The name was taken, because many climbers who tried to conquer the mountain never returned, the Pemon Indians believed those who did not return had moved into the hands of the river authorities.
Now Angel Falls is the most popular tourist location in Venezuela. Unfortunately the environment where Angel Waterfall is located is very difficult to reach by land, because of its location in a remote forest. To reach the location of this waterfall, tourists can use a plane from Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolivar to Canaima Camp. Followed by going along the rivers that flow with the Angel waterfall (namely the Churun, Gauja, and Carrao Rivers) using a canoe for about three days.
The easiest way to reach the location of Angel Falls is by air, namely by helicopter. From the air, Angel Falls will be seen more clearly if it is not covered in fog. When the weather is clear the helicopter can also land directly at the peak of Auyan Tepui, where Angel Waterfall flows.