If you haven’t heard of Angel Falls in Venezuela, just imagine a real-life Indiana Jones adventure in South America. Here, hidden deep within the jungle, is a natural wonder so phenomenal that it’s hard to believe. The tallest waterfall in the world cascades from the top of a hill, towering over the emerald jungles, and plunges sharply into the churning waters below. Located in Canaima National Park, Angel Falls is impressive in its own right, but what makes it even more special and alluring is the fact that it’s not easily accessible.
The History of Angel Falls
Ironically, the name of the waterfall has nothing to do with angels or water falling from the heavens. Until the mid-1950s, nobody knew about this natural wonder. Even the indigenous Kamarakoto-Pemon tribes, who inhabited the valley near Auyán-tepui, stayed away, believing that evil spirits dwelled in the powerful water flow. In 1933, American gold prospector James Crawford Angel accidentally discovered the natural wonder while flying over the mountain in his monoplane named “Flamingo” in search of ore deposits.
As fate would have it, Angel, his wife, and two friends landed on the mountaintop but couldn’t take off again due to plane troubles. With no other choice, they had to descend on foot. The journey took them a grueling 11 days. News of this adventure spread quickly, and the waterfall discovered by James was named in his honor.
Angel Falls gained worldwide fame in 1949 when journalist Ruth Robertson’s article about the thrilling journey through the jungles and encounter with this natural wonder was published in National Geographic magazine.
The waterfall plunges from a fissure at the top of Auyán-tepui into the so-called Devil’s Canyon. The height of the freefall is 979 meters!
This is the largest uninterrupted waterfall in the world.
Before reaching the ground, the water is dispersed into fine particles and turns into mist, which can be seen several kilometers away.
In late 2009, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez renamed Angel Falls to Kerepakupai-Merú, explaining that the waterfall had been part of the country’s national wealth long before James Angel discovered it.
Where is Angel Falls located?
The waterfall is situated in Canaima National Park, which spans over 11,500 square miles of wilderness in southern Venezuela. The park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most impressive places in the world. Much of it is covered by table mountains, breathtaking cliffs, and beautiful arched waterfalls. Getting here is not easy, but it is precisely the remoteness from civilization that makes this place so appealing.
How to get to the tallest waterfall in the world
It’s important to note that reaching Angel Falls by car is impossible as there are no roads in the area. The most popular way to visit the waterfall is to fly to the city of Canaima in Venezuela. There are no direct flights to Canaima from Caracas, so you’ll have to make a connection in Ciudad Bolivar or Puerto Ordaz. You can purchase a package tour that includes a hike to the waterfall as well as accommodation, flights, and meals. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to witness this natural wonder.
Preview: Jeanpaul Razzouk, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)