Roraima is a table mountain (tepui) in South America. Located in the Guiana Highlands at the southeastern point of the Canaima National Park at the junction of Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana.
The top of Roraima is a plateau with an area of about 34 km².
Roraima is the highest table mountain in Venezuela, reaching a height of 2810 meters.
The tepui of the Canaima National Park are among the most ancient formations on Earth, dating back about 2 billion years from the Precambrian period, and are the remnants of a vast plateau that once stretched from the coast. Atlantic Ocean to the borders of the Amazon, Orinoco and Rio Negro basins. They resemble huge tables and mostly stand isolated from each other, towering over the jungle with hard-to-reach cliffs.
A large cloud constantly hangs over Roraima, almost every day it's raining, the weather changes quickly and frequently. Water covers about a fifth of the plateau: peat bogs, bright pink puddles, crystal clear lakes, fast-flowing rivers, the channels of which are dotted with rock crystals for several hundred meters.
Peat bogs are perhaps the most colorful area, as beautiful flowers and plants grow here, colorful carpets of club mosses and mosses are full of colors. Thanks to almost daily rains, here, on the top of the mountain, a carnivorous water lily has found its home.
Due to the abundance of precipitation from Roraima falls great amount water, and at its foot originate the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo rivers.
Local Indians call Mount Roraima "the navel of the earth", believing that the goddess Queen lives on the very top of the mountain - the progenitor of all people.
For a long time, the top of the mountain was not explored and only brave and stubborn Indians climbed it, who considered the path to the mountain where the goddess Queen lives enchanted and with many obstacles, among which are impenetrable forests and swamps.
Mount Roraima was first described by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596.
The first European explorer to explore the area in 1835 was the German scientist Robert Schomburgk. He was conquered by the local mountains with their unique ecosystem, but he never managed to climb to the top of this tepui.
The first explorers who nevertheless conquered the summit of this unique mountain were two British scientists - Everard Im Turn and Harry Perkins in 1884. They told the world about the unique ecosystem of Mount Roraima and their adventures. It was these notes of theirs that inspired the famous writer Arthur Conan Doyle to create the fantasy novel The Lost World, inhabited by different prehistoric species plants and animals.
Indeed Mount Roraima is home to unique species plants and animals that are found only on this plateau and nowhere else in the world. Here, most of the animals are black in color, among them: butterflies, dragonflies, as well as miniature, about a centimeter in size, black toads, which tend to whistle before the rain. And each tepui has its own variety of frogs. Also, there are noses, capybaras, mice, lizards, several species of birds, spiders, predatory leeches and scorpions.
The large surface of the plateau of Mount Roraima is black and inhabited by microscopic algae, but in those places where neither rain nor sun falls, its real color is visible - bright pink.
The trees here are no less attractive, although they are represented here in a small number of species, but some of them resemble the famous and beautiful bonsai in their appearance. Also, due to its proximity to the clouds, Mount Roraima constantly attracts numerous lightnings, so almost all the trees on the plateau suffered from such thunderstorm activity.
On the given time Mount Roraima is tourist attraction and every day dozens of tourists climb its top. Usually the ascent is carried out from the side of Venezuela, since it is here that the gentlest slope is located, thanks to which it is possible to climb the mountain.
Roraima (Roraima listen)) is a sandstone table mountain (tepui) in South America. Located at the junction Brazil(state Roraima), Venezuela (national park Canaima) and Guyana(highest point in the country). The height at the boundary junction point (triple point) is 2772 meters ( 9 100 feet) above sea level. The top of Roraima is a plateau with an area of about 34 km².
Word " tepui» in the language of the Pemon Indians inhabiting the area Gran Sabana (GranSabana), means " home of the gods". Tepui for the most part stand isolated from each other, rising above the jungle with hard-to-reach cliffs. Many tepui are located in Venezuela's Canaima National Park, which has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
Tepui are the remnants of a vast plateau that once stretched from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the border of the river basins. Amazon, Orinoco and Rio Negro. The plateau was formed on the site of the lake about 200,000,000 years ago, when South America and Africa still formed a single continent. The plateau consisted of sandstone and was located on a granite base; over time, erosion turned the plateau into several monadnoks, from which tepui were formed, covered with erosion-resistant rocks. The term " monadnock", means the remnant hill, composed of solid rocks, which stands out sharply among the leveled surface. The name of the term originates from Mount Monadnock ( Monadnock) in the USA. As a rule, tepui are composed of a single block of Precambrian sandstone or quartzite, which soars dramatically above the surrounding jungle to heights of more than 2000 meters.
In the Roraima region, the rivers of the basins originate Orinoco, Amazons and Essequibo.
A large cloud constantly hangs over Roraima.
Research History
German explorer Robert Schomburgk visited the area 1835
year. He was struck by mesas, but attempts to climb one of them were unsuccessful.
Despite the steep slopes of the plateau, Roraima was the first of the tepui that a person could climb. Sir Everard im Turn (Sir Everard im Thurn) together with Harry Perkins (HarryPerkins) in December 1884
year climbed the slope, which was covered with forests, and reached the top of the mountain. However, it was the report on the expedition of Robert Schomburgk to the tepui region that inspired the writer Arthur Conan Doyle to write a novel "Lost World" in 1912
year, about the discovery of a plateau inhabited by prehistoric species of animals and plants. 
Alas, no ancient monsters live on Roraima, only guiana harlequins (Oreophrynella quelchii
) - very small toads, black. The tops of mesas are like islands in the sky, where flora and fauna have evolved in isolation over millions of years. The nature of these cold "islands" is completely different from rainforests and savannas at the foot of the mountains.
After returning from the expedition, Sir Everard im Turn, together with Robert Schomburgk, published a report on his journey in one of the German academic journals. However, at that time it seemed to everyone, to put it mildly, implausible. And rightly so, no one has yet seen rivers with colored water, living animals and birds that lived on our planet in the distant past, did not find a large number of plants, known to science. Unusual, according to their stories, was the microclimate of the hill: a constant summer with a wonderful change of day and night. Either for several days there was a bright sunny day on the plateau, then suddenly pitch darkness began for several hours. In a word, time flowed in this place according to its own laws, not obeying earthly ones.
For about 100 years, none of the researchers have visited this place - and this is understandable. The road here is exceptionally difficult: the Guiana Highlands crossed by gorges and deaf thickets equatorial forest, which frame the Roraima plateau, made it almost impregnable.
One of the largest "tables" - Roraima, which is near the border of Venezuela with Brazil, for a long time was inaccessible to people. Only brave men from Indian tribes from time to time made their way to the enchanted, according to their beliefs, land, then telling their fellow tribesmen about an amazing plateau with steep walls, cascades of waterfalls and magical rivers with red and black waters...
The fresh word in the study of this area belongs to the Venezuelan pilot Juan Angel. AT 1937
year, flying over the Orinoco river basin and losing his way, he noticed a river that was not marked on any map. Sticking to its current, Angel suddenly found that he was no longer flying over a plain, but in a gorge. Mountains surrounded it on both sides, and there was no way to turn the plane and follow the same course. In the end, the pilot, with incredible difficulty, was lucky enough to land on a plateau. She came out unhappy: the plane got stuck in a swampy place, and Angel then made his way from this enchanted paradise to the nearest Indian settlement for two weeks. He later described his personal memories in a book, which local scientists immediately classified as science fiction.
Juan Angel died in 1956 year during an air crash, but only 10 years later his son Rolland, who believed any word written by the pope in the book, managed to form a large expedition to those parts.
It turned out that it was not in vain that the Indians considered these lands to be a disastrous region: a mountainous island is one of the regions of thunderstorms and lightning. They strike the plateau almost every day, and there is not a single tree that has not been damaged by lightning. In this place, by the way, the expedition discovered the greatest waterfall in the world, named after Juan Angel. It differs from another original feature: Traditionally, waterfalls originate on rivers, but Angel Falls itself gives rise to a river!
The colorful fauna also turned out to be extraordinary: in addition to the possums, lizards, black toads and frogs, snakes, spiders and a large number of unusual species of butterflies already known to science, the researchers managed to find an unusual animal here, which they dubbed Cadboro-saurus. It looks like huge snake with a horse's head and humps on his back. The length of his body is approximately 15 meters. Small frogs were also found at this place, which, like birds, incubate eggs, the bats, insects-bloodsuckers, which are not affected by almost any chemicals protection, strongly hostile and unsafe not only for animals, but also for people, gulliver ants more than 5 cm long, able to bite small branches with their steel jaws. 
But biggest discovery became the remains of ancient animals that lived here quite recently. How they died is not clear. Maybe the ubiquitous aliens were experimenting on them. This conjecture is not without foundation! Since the expedition found a large round area not far from the waterfall, completely devoid of vegetation and as if sprinkled with some kind of silvery powder (laboratory studies later discovered that this is an alloy of very rare metals, which is unrealistic to obtain under terrestrial conditions).
Examinations of local caves also gave scientists many mysteries. They discovered a lot of rock paintings professionally depicting unusual animals and creatures that vaguely resemble people. Scientists have also discovered a number of crypts, in which fog seemed to thicken and a sweet smell flew. Several members of the expedition, having inhaled this aroma, spent several days in a coma, later telling their colleagues about amazing visions and wanderings to other worlds. In the end, it was decided to return back, and here a new surprise lay in wait for the brave explorers: they were in no way able to get out of this lost world. The walkie-talkies broke down long ago, the landscape mapped by the travelers seemed to change the outlines and directions of the world... Roraima did not let go of those who learned her secrets.
Only a few months later, exhausted by the search for a way out, people managed to return home. According to them: "... some unknown force, like a whirlwind, picked us up and slowly lowered us to the central square of one of the Indian settlements." By that time, the members of the expedition had run out of food, their clothes had become unusable, almost everyone was on the verge of nervous exhaustion.
When the travelers finally managed to get to civilization, it turned out that their families had long since buried them: after all, the expedition did not return after the planned several months of work and, according to earthly time, had been absent for 4 years!
More official expeditions in this region not equipped. However, from time to time, brave men try to get into this lost world, where, as a rule, they find their death: Plateau does not like to let go of his victims.
Climbing Roraima
Today Mount Roraima attracts tourists from all over the world. Almost everyone who wants to visit this place,must come from Venezuela. This is part of a national park and climbing is only allowed with a guide. Today, several dozen people a day climb Roraima.
Despite the fact that the plateau can be reached by a paved path, it is very easy to get lost on the top of Roraima due to constant cloudiness.
The heroes of The Lost World reached the summit plateau by climbing a detached cliff and cutting down a large tree that served as a bridge. Roraima does have a “suitable” cliff, but the gap between it and the plateau is too wide, and there are no large trees at such a height.
If you go along the Paratepuy route, you can climb to the top of the mountain without additional technical means. To go the other way, you need to use climbing equipment. Only a few times managed to climb the mountain from Guyana and Brazil. This path is very difficult and dangerous, since the mountain is completely surrounded on these two sides, mainly by huge sheer cliffs. But in addition to technical equipment, you must also obtain a special permit that will allow you to enter the territory of the national park in Guyana and Brazil. As of 2009, climbing from the Brazilian side is very problematic, as the path lies through an Indian reserve Raposa-Serra do Sol Amerindian reserve where it often happens armed conflicts between the indigenous population and the authorities.
Most tourists hire an Indian from the tribe as a guide. pemon who lives in the village Paraitepuy (Paraitepui ). The village can be reached by quad bike, it will be a little more difficult by car, but provided that the dirt roads are not washed out, and you can walk on foot in a day. To find it, you need to turn off the main road Gran Sabana (Gran Sabana ) on the unpaved, which is located in the middle of the 88th kilometer and Santa Elena de Uairen.
Porters carry groceries and tents, prepare food, and bring down tourists who are ill or injured (which is not uncommon). They are generally fluent in Spanish, but if an English-speaking guide is needed, this must be arranged in advance. Everyone carries their own personal equipment. Like most Indians of the Selva, the Pemon are calm, friendly, very pleasant people to talk to. Male porters carry 50 kg of cargo, women - 40 each. Children begin to help their parents at about the age of six. 
The trail to Roraima starts at the Indian village of Paraitepuy. On the first day, they pass about 20 km along the mountain steppes, with two fords across the rivers (after heavy rain the fords can be somewhat difficult for inexperienced hikers). There are three campsites along the trail. Sun cream and midge repellant will come in handy in this area.
It takes a whole day to get to La Rampa» ( La Rampa) - the path that leads to the top. The trail rises to the foot of the rock walls of Roraima. The so-called cloud forests grow here - dense thickets of stunted trees, completely overgrown with moss, ferns and epiphytic plants.
Cloud forests are full of beautiful birds, including hummingbirds and bright orange rock cockerels. Tree-like ferns and gunners grow along the path - something like burdocks with three-meter leaves.
The ascent itself takes the entire third day. The trail is almost vertical in places and very slippery - you will need reliable shoes. Somewhere you have to go through waterfalls.
The higher you go, the colder and more humid the air becomes. On the plateau itself, it can rain for several days in a row, and the sun sometimes does not peek through the fog for months. In the morning the temperature drops to almost zero. During the rainy season (May-October) there is a risk of seeing nothing but fog at all, but at this time there are fewer people and much more flowers, especially orchids. 
Numerous birds nest in niches and crevices of cliffs. Every morning, thousands of swifts and tiny parrots scatter through the surrounding forests. As night falls, strange night birds fly out of the caves.
The trail reaches the edge of the plateau in just half an hour from a large pile of boulders at the very edge of the cliff. This is the highest point of Roraima.
Here you can sit alone for hours, dangling your legs into the abyss and watching the clouds rise from the warm plains. When the wind blows clouds of fog in your face, it seems that you are rapidly flying through the clouds. Occasionally, the fog parted, and hilly plains are visible, neighboring Kukenan-tepui in the stripes of waterfalls and rectangular silhouettes of other tepui on the horizon. And behind the back spreads a plateau - one of the most fantastic places in the world. 
From below, it looks like it's completely flat. In fact, this is a chaotic heap of rocks, canyons, steep hills and rocky placers. Almost the entire surface of the plateau is completely black from the "desert tan" and microscopic algae living in the upper layer of stone.
Only where the sandstone is protected from rain and sun, or constantly washed away by water, is its true color, usually hot pink, visible.
Different layers of sandstone are destroyed at different speeds, so thousands of bizarre rocks have formed on the plateau - thickets of giant "mushrooms", palisades of five-meter stone phalluses, fairy-tale castles, endless fields of "chess pieces". There are so many of them that it is not possible to use them as signs or landmarks. 
In the northwestern part is the so-called labyrinth where even guides are afraid to go. In some places, the stone is split by gigantic cracks - the rivers disappear into them, only to break out of the rocks hundreds of meters below the edge of the plateau in a waterfall.
Approximately one fifth of the plateau is covered with water. Bright pink puddles, peat bogs, the cleanest lakes in the world, fast rivers... You have to get used to getting your feet wet up to the knees. The channels of some rivers are lined with rock crystals for hundreds of meters.
There is also a "jacuzzi" - oval baths with a crystal bottom, as if specially created for bathing. Guides do swim in them, but most tourists find the water too cold. 
Peat bogs are especially interesting. These are the brightest corners of the plateau - there is an amazing amount of beautiful flowers, colorful carpets of mosses and club mosses, dense thickets of insectivorous plants and orchids.
But there are few animals there. The largest are funny noses related to raccoons. Almost all small fauna are endemic, found only on the tops of tepui or generally only on Roraima.
Many are painted black, even butterflies and dragonflies. There are also mice, several species of birds, lizards, millipedes, spiders, scorpions and predatory leeches on the plateau, but no fish, snakes, mosquitoes and midges. 
And the most interesting residents plateau - tiny, fingernail-sized, black toads. They live on flat rocks and whistle funny before the rain. Each large tepui has its own special kind these toads. They are very ancient (the guidebooks even say that they older than dinosaurs, but this is, to put it mildly, an exaggeration).
Tourist groups spend the night in the so-called "hotels" - on narrow areas protected from rain under overhanging rocks.
The standard seven-day tour only covers the southwest of the plateau. Other parts can be reached either with a ten-day tour (but these are rare) or on your own. Independent climbing is not only illegal, but also very risky: people on Roraima disappear every year. 
Although the area of the plateau is small, it is not easy to get around it completely in a week. Long-distance tourist routes end at the "triple point" - at the stone pyramid, marking the junction of borders three countries. If you still manage to go even further, you can see the lake Gladys, the largest on the plateau (about a hundred meters long), named after the lake of plesiosaurs from the Lost World.
Lake Gladys is half overgrown with sedge and is not worth the risky hike on your own. But another kilometer or two, and here it is - a completely amazing place called Prow of the Ship. This is the northern tip of Roraima, where the plateau ends in a narrow, very sharp ledge, on both sides of which there are eight-hundred-meter cliffs. A few minutes spent on the Nose among torn clouds flying towards you is perhaps one of the strongest sensations available to the inhabitants of our planet. 
The descent from the mountain lasts about two days. Many tourists choose to stay overnight at the summit. To visit northern part tepui with little-studied but intriguing species, it is necessary to go a longer and more dangerous path. The mountain can also be reached by helicopter, but in good weather. The tour can be booked in the city Santa Elena de Wiren (Santa Elena de Uairen). Almost all tourists buy organized tours lasting five or seven days (the second option is much better - participants in five-day tours can spend only a couple of hours on the plateau).
Flora and fauna
The Roraima Plateau is an exposed rock, highly oxidized, poor in minerals, especially phosphorus, calcium and nitrogen, which are essential for plants. The scarce fertile layer is quickly washed away by precipitation, which forms rivers that break down from the sheer walls of the mountain with many waterfalls.
The plants of the top of Roraima are forced to adapt to a specific "diet", the loss of water due to the powerful solar radiation, as well as to form devices that allow them to gain a foothold in the poor soil of the rocks. But the harsh world of tepui is ideal for algae. A large number of endemic species have been found here.
It is hard for a few animals that are extremely limited in food, live in a damp, cold climate with a high degree solar activity. Small rodents live here. For example, roraima hamster (Podoxymys roraimae
) - very rare view, endemic. Prefers to settle in thickets bonetii. Unfortunately, bushes have been cut down for many years by tourists, setting lignified parts on fires. Thus, the natural habitat of the hamster is reduced. While trekking, you can meet another representative of the same group - a climbing hamster McConnell (Rhipidomys macconnelli
). The species is widespread, found in the Orinoco. 
To such extreme conditions carnivorous plants are remarkably adapted, some of the group are endemic to Roraima.
Sundew (Drosera Roraimae
) is an insectivorous plant. The sticky substance produced by the leaves contains the alkaloid coniine, which has a paralytic effect on insects, and digestive enzymes. After the insect is caught, the edges of the leaf are closed, covering it entirely. This method of plant nutrition makes it possible, under conditions of depleted soils, to absorb from the insect during its digestion such substances useful for the plant as sodium, potassium, magnesium salts, phosphorus and nitrogen. After the insect has been digested (usually it takes several days), the leaf opens again. 
Heliamphora (Heliamphora nutans
) - very beautiful plant, growing on the northern tepui of Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. The first representative of the species was discovered on Roraima by German botanists - brothers Robert and Richard Schomburgkami, in 1839
year. The plant forms extensive carpet thickets in the swamps of the mountain, formed by trapping devices 10-15 cm high.
Brockinia (Brocchinia reducta
) is one of the few carnivorous plants among the bromeliads. Not endemic to Roraima. The species is distributed in southern Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, found in areas where soils are poor in nutrients. Brocchinia, like many other bromeliads, forms a rosette of leaves filled with water. The leaves are covered with reflective scales. The water exudes a pleasant aroma. All this attracts insects and at the same time forms a trap. Sitting on a leaf, the victim rolls into a bell and drowns in water, turning into a solution of nutrients. 
However, there are a number of plants that are not seen in bloodlust. So, for example, endemic Roraima, the dominant plant stegolepis (Stegolepis guianensis
). The genus grows only on tepui, and members of the family are found in Africa. The resettlement of the ancestors of the plant occurred when the supercontinent Gondwana existed on earth.
Bonetia (Bonetias roraimae
) - low bushes that form thickets, endemic to Roraima.
Afanocarpus (Aphanocarpus steyermarkii ) - sole representative genus, endemic to Roraima.
Roraima has a large number of orchid species, including 30 endemics. Orchid Epidendrum secundum
can be found not only on tepui, but also in the Andes, but it is worth mentioning, as it is one of the most common species growing on Roraima. By the way, the unofficial name of the flower is Viña Vaina Orchid. Vina Vaina- a mountain that is part of the complex Machu Picchu in Peru. 
The mountain is home to 140 species of birds, some of which are also endemic to Roraima. For example, here you can find forest philidors (Automolus roraimae
) - belong to passerines; guajaro (Guacharo roraime
).
On the flat top rise here and there strange, mushroom-like, stone outgrowths resulting from the weathering of the rock, and between them one can see round depressions filled with water.
Roraima abounds in quartz, the deposits of which are under special control, so open deposits of crystals have survived untouched to this day.
In the next part of the article you will find another interesting story travelers and an interview with a famous scientist about the sensational discoveries made on the plateau.
The first European explorer to explore the area in 1835 was the German scientist Robert Schomburgk. He was struck by the majestic mountains with a unique ecosystem, but attempts to climb one of them were unsuccessful. Half a century later, in 1884, two British scientists Everard Im Turn and Harry Perkins managed to do this, who conquered the top of Mount Roraima and revealed to the world all the secrets of this mysterious area. It is along this route that modern travelers climb the plateau of the famous Venezuelan tepui. Written by the pioneers, a report about wondrous wanderings into uncharted lands inspired the famous writer Arthur Conan Doyle to create the science fiction novel The Lost World about the discovery of a plateau inhabited by prehistoric plant and animal species.
Road to Roraima
Ascent to Roraima:
The constant cloudiness around the mountain is associated with the fact that the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo rivers originate at the foot of Roraima.
The surrounding landscapes are really very similar to fantasy world with black rocks hung with threads of waterfalls, colorful ponds, outlandish vegetation and rare animals.
Almost the entire surface of the mountain plateau is black from the "desert tan" and microscopic algae inhabiting the upper layer of stone. Only in those places where sandstone is not exposed to the sun and rain, or is regularly washed with water, does its true color appear - bright pink. different speed the destruction of sandstone layers contributed to the formation of a large number of bizarre rocks on the plateau. In some places, the stone is cut through by huge cracks, into which several rivers flow, later bursting out of the rocks with noisy waterfalls. Water covers about a fifth of the plateau: peat bogs, bright pink puddles, crystal-clear lakes, fast-flowing rivers, the channels of which are strewn with rock crystals for several hundred meters.
The most colorful corners of the plateau are peat bogs - beautiful flowers grow there, outlandish insectivorous plants, colorful carpets of club mosses and mosses are full of colors. The local trees, resembling bonsai in their appearance, are represented by a very small number of species.
Unusual flower:
Animal world the Roraima plateau also cannot boast of rich diversity, but it surprises with its unique representatives, most of which are endemic. Many inhabitants of this area are painted black, even dragonflies and butterflies. Even on the plateau there are noses, capybaras (capybaras), mice, lizards, several species of birds, spiders, predatory leeches and scorpions.
Capybara with cubs:
The most amazing representatives of the fauna of the plateau are miniature, about a centimeter in size, black toads, which tend to whistle before the rain. Each large tepui has its own special kind of these frogs.
Mount Roraima has another unusual feature: it attracts numerous lightning bolts that strike the surface of its top almost every day and it is already very difficult to find a tree here that has not been affected by thunderstorm activity. The unearthly landscapes of the Venezuelan tepui inspired not only the writing of science fiction novels, but also the creation of feature films, documentaries and even animated films.
In 1993, the valley at the foot of Mount Roraima served as a filming location for the famous sci-fi film Park Jurassic directed by Steven Spielberg.
In 2008 Griffin Productions released an educational documentary"Authentic Lost World dedicated to Mount Roraima. It describes the exciting adventures of a modern team of explorers following in the footsteps of the original summit climbers, Ym Thurn and Harry Perkins.
The creators of the cartoons also did not deprive the famous Venezuelan mountain of attention. In 2009, the Disney / Pixar film studio released the cartoon "Up", in which the action takes place on Roraima. The animated disc also includes the short film Adventures Out There, which tells the story of the Pixar team's journey to Roraima in search of creative ideas and inspiration for the animated film Up.
Today, several dozen people climb Mount Roraima every day. Climbing is usually carried out from the side of Venezuela, which owns three-quarters of the mountain, since this side has the gentlest slope. The Venezuelan town from which the path to Roraima begins is called Santa Elena de Airen and lies near the Brazilian border. To get to it, you first have to fly to Caracas (the capital of Venezuela) from Moscow with about an hour and a half transfers in Paris, Madrid or Rome. And from Caracas, buses run regularly in the direction of Santa Elena de Uairén. Alternatively, this town can be reached by bus from Ciudad Bolivar.
On the territory of the Guiana Plateau there are not only giant plateaus - tepui, there are also other geological phenomena, such as faults, deep caves, dips, sinkholes and waterfalls. The highest table mountain in the area, Roraima, is also located here. It is located near the place where the borders of three states converge: Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. Its height reaches 2800 meters. It was this plateau that became the habitat of dinosaurs in famous novel Conan Doyle's The Lost World. The first time they managed to conquer the mountain was in 1884. It is clear that dinosaurs were not found there, but they found several species of animals and plants unknown to science that live only here and are not found anywhere else. Climbing the mountain leaves impressions of a lifetime. Cloud forests grow here, consisting of dwarf trees completely covered with moss. Along the trails there are many ferns and unusual plants with three meter gunner leaves. On the plateau itself, there are many rocks of the most bizarre shape, resembling either mushrooms, or chess pieces, or fairy-tale castles. About one fifth total area the plateau is covered with water, so that in some places natural pools have formed. However, the water filling them is too cool. There are also peat bogs here. Growing everywhere in in large numbers orchids and carnivorous plants. This is a species of flowering plant that feeds not only on insects that fall into their traps, but can even wrap around and suffocate small animals. Existence on some of the tepui carnivorous plants biologists explain the lack of nutrients in the soil, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, which are washed out rain showers. Therefore, some representatives of the local flora had to find other sources of food for themselves. Most of the low-growing trees resemble bonsai, which makes the plateau look like a Japanese garden. The animal world is poor here. There are mainly noses - the closest relatives of raccoons, opossums, toads and lizards. It was possible to climb to the very top of Roraima only a little over 20 years ago. The expedition, led by one of the climbing aces Don Willanson, the conqueror of Everest, took almost a month to overcome the vertical 400-meter wall. For all fans of ecotourism, visiting Roraima is a real adventure. There are several excursions per day for tourists. Usually the duration of the tour lasts several days and only with an experienced guide. Self-guided hikes up the mountain are not allowed. People often disappear in these places. During the hike, tourists carry their own personal equipment. Tents and provisions are porters-Indians. The final point of the route is a stone pyramid, the so-called triple point, which marks the junction of the borders of three states. Further you can see Lake Gladys. It got its name from the lake from the novel by Conan Doyle. However, it is forbidden to approach him. At a distance of a few kilometers there is another remarkable place titled "The Prow of the Ship". This is a narrow and sharp tip of the plateau in a northerly direction. Clouds constantly “cling” to Roraima, fog is a common occurrence here. In its dusk, the shapes of the cliffs take on unearthly views. Then it seems that even the air of this unique corner of the Earth is filled with mysticism. In general, Roraima is a collection of the most beautiful landscapes, those happy eyewitnesses who have been here will sooner or later want to come back here again.
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