Posted by: scienceguy288 | February 8, 2008

South America: Trip #5: Angel Falls or Iguazu Falls

I felt bad about not including both of these fantastic cascades, so I included both.  Each is amazing in their own respect, but for different reasons.

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Angel Falls and a rainbow

American bush piolot Jimmy Angel was gold prospecting when he found the waterfall now known as Angel Falls.  The waterfall, located in Gran Sabana, Venezuela, is the highest in the world.  They reach up to 3,212 feet at the highest point.  Just so you know, that is fifteen times higher than Niagara Falls.  The falls plummet from the Auyan Pepuy, a strange, primordial plateau of sandstone.  These are contained in Canaima National Park.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s masterpiece: The Lost World was inspired here.  The park has a hotel which is very expensive.  Here, a flight is your best bet to see the amazing sight.  The best time for hiking the surrounding area and the park is from October to May.  The best time for navigating the rivers stemming from the waterfall is from May to December.  During the dry season (January to May) the waterfall is unobstructed, but very thin.  During the wet season from (June to December) the waterfall is giant, but often enveloped with clouds.

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A rainbow over a section of Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls in Misiones, Argentina may not be as well-known as the Niagara Falls, however, they are bigger than the North American cataract.  Around 1,700 cubic meters of water plunge headlong into the tumultuous rapids below over the 200 foot fall.  There are over 275 smaller falls, over the 3 in Niagara.  Some of these stretch over 2 miles!  The falls can be seen from both Brazil and Argentina.  There is a great number of walkways and catwalks that can be meandered through dense rainforest jungle.  The Hotel des Cataratas is located right on the falls and costs $165.  It may be a bid difficult to fall asleep amongst the thundering waters nearby.  Like with Angel Falls, the best time for hiking the surrounding area and the park is from October to May.  The best time for navigating the rivers stemming from the waterfall is from May to December.  During the dry season (January to May) the waterfall is unobstructed, but very thin.  During the wet season from (June to December) the waterfall is giant, but often enveloped with clouds.

Both of these waterfalls are amazing in their own right.  Do not compare them, however, as they are great for different reasons.

Responses

Angel Falls is amazing.

I dream of visiting Angle Falls one day - you’ve captured these waterfalls brilliantly. ahhh…. I yearn for the day that my kiddo’s grow up and head for college so hubby and I can travel more.

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