Spilling out from its lofty height of some 980 meters, the water at Angel Falls provides much of the beauty of this, the tallest waterfall in the world. It shows you a fascinating example of the powerful force of nature, which is now considered among the world's eight natural wonders.
Its height makes it 15 times higher than Niagara Falls. What's more, it has an uninterrupted drop of 807 meters. The mere fact that the water is falling at such a lofty height and that strong winds buffet the water as it falls turns the water into mist even before it gets into the ground. From below, you can see a rainbow shimmering in the mist as it plays with the light of the tropical sun. The sight, along with the sound of thundering waters, is a soothing, relaxing attraction.
The waters plummet off a flat table mountain and spill out onto a small creek that wends its way into the Churun River, a tributary of the Carrao River. The flat-topped mountain is called Auyan-tepui, which means 'Devil's Mountain'. The plateau has its own ecosystem and also features a jungle. The falls themselves can be found in Venezuela's southeastern area at the Canaima National Park in the region of Gran Sabana.
The locals call it Kerepakupai-Meru, which means 'waterfall of the deepest place', but this was later named after Jimmy Angel. Angel was a pilot and adventurer who discovered the falls in the late 1930s. Angel flew over the falls and tried to land his plane, the 'El Rio Caroni', on Auyan-tepui. He, his wife, and two other companions were forced to leave the plane and descend the mountain on foot. The plane remained at the top for over 30 years but is now housed in the Aviation Museum in Maracay.
To view the falls up close, take a boat ride from Canaima camp. You can choose the length of the trip, depending on whether you want to spend the night at any of the camps along the way and at the base of the falls. The tour also involves a trek into the rain forest and up to the base of the falls. The trip is quite enchanting – a thrilling combination of reality and magic, with side trips to rivers, lagoons, and other smaller waterfalls. Another option is for you to rent a small commercial aircraft that will fly you directly in front of the falls. The only thing is that the falls are in a steep canyon, and clouds sometimes obscure the sight.
The best time to view the falls is during the rainy season, when the waters are abundant. At this time, the falls can split into two or more. The falls and their surroundings are also home to some fascinating flora and fauna, such as colorful parrots, hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, and macaws. The birds' squawking and cries provide their own quirky kind of music that provides a great background for your trip. You may also get to meet jaguars, howler monkeys, sloths, and anteaters. Other options you can include with your trip to Angel Falls include hiking, swimming, fishing, and canoeing.