Venezuela is a really nice name, it just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not just a nice place to pronounce but also a nice place to visit.
Jimmie Angel a US aviator, was the first person to fly over the falls. Angel’s ashes were scattered over the falls on July 2, 1960. In typical “I’m white and I found a place” fashion, the falls were named after him. Angel’s falls. In 2009, President Hugo Chávez announced his intention to change the name to the purported original indigenous Pemon term (“Kerepakupai Vená“, meaning “waterfall of the deepest place”), but eventually did not.
Angel falls has to be one of the most beautiful natural wonders of the world. The world’s highest waterfalls, at about 3212 ft is located in Cainama National pack, which is protected by UNESCO. The falls are usually visited by either a sightseeing flight or a three-day boat trip beginning in the town of Canaima. The boat trip, which also includes a hike through the jungle to the base of the falls, is not a luxury tour by any stretch, with basic accommodation along the route. The boat trip may not be possible during the dry season due to low water levels in the river.
The Angel Falls are only a small part, albeit a major attraction of the large Canaima National park. Covering about three million hectares. It has several tepuis ( table-top mountains) rising more than hundreds of metres above the savannah. Almost like little giants skip on them like stones on a pond of air. Even without visiting Angel falls, a visit to Canaima National park is a whole experience, with several waterfalls you can swim at the base of, especially near the Brazillian borders.
Roraima is a table-top mountain and loos lie something out of a fairytale. It’s no wonder it’s the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novel, “The Lost World.” It is basically like standing on the weirdly-shaped stone table of some random giant. It is a popular hiking destination, requiring multiple days to hike. Pack up prepared for the weather because the elevation of Roraima is often cloudy, misty or raining. Roraima is not precisely in Venezuela but lies on the border of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.
In 1963, the government of Venezuela made a decision that common people are allowed to visit the National Pantheon. Since then, common people like me have been allowed to visit. The Pantheon of Venezuela is located in the northern part of the Old Town. It was constructed on the spot of a church which was destroyed during the earthquake of 1812. Initially, the local governments intended to erect another church here but in 1874 their plans changed. Since that day, this spot has been used as the burial place.
Venezuela is a wonderful place to visit, with several attractions for your average tourists. It is worth a visit if not just to visit the ever-famous Angel falls.
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