Angel Falls: The World’s Tallest Waterfall

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall, cascading 979 meters from the heights of Auyán-tepui in Venezuela.

The virtual tour begins at the Churún River’s bank, traverses through dense forest, ascends to rocky viewpoints with breathtaking views of Angel Falls, and ends at the pools at its base, where the water continues its journey downstream.

The Virtual Tour: Last Steps to Angel Falls

This virtual tour takes you through five stunning panoramas, each revealing a unique facet of Angel Falls and its surroundings:

Riverbank at the Rio Churún: Start the journey at the black-water riverbank, surrounded by a rocky expanse and the tannin-rich waters that flow through Devil’s Canyon.
Forest Trail: Continue along a shaded path through dense rainforest, with towering trees and bromeliads decorating the landscape.
Rocky Viewpoints: Pause at two viewpoints offering spectacular views of Angel Falls cascading into the Devil’s Canyon and glimpses of the surrounding tepuis.
Pools at the Base: End the tour at the natural pools formed by the smaller cascades below Angel Falls, where the water collects before flowing further downstream.

Angel Falls: The World’s Tallest Waterfall

Angel Falls holds the title of the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a total height of 979 meters (3,212 feet). Its grandeur is unmatched, making it a centerpiece of Canaima National Park and an enduring symbol of the natural beauty of the Guiana Highlands.

The Main Plunge: The most striking feature of Angel Falls is its 807-meter (2,648-foot) vertical drop from a cleft near the summit of Auyán-tepui. This uninterrupted plunge dwarfs even famous waterfalls like Niagara Falls.
Cascades Below: After the main plunge, the water flows over 400 meters (1,300 feet) of sloped cascades and rapids before forming a smaller 30-meter (100-foot) waterfall that empties into pools at the base.
Angel Falls is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also a natural wonder that captivates scientists, explorers, and travelers worldwide. Its sheer height has made it a subject of fascination, inspiring countless studies, expeditions, and artistic depictions.

Angel Falls: The Origins

Angel Falls is primarily fed by the Río Kerepacupai Merú, a small river that forms on the summit of Auyán-tepui. The river’s water comes from rainfall and mist, which collect on the flat, uneven surface of the tepui. The summit acts as a natural reservoir, storing water in its rocky crevices and shallow pools.

Río Kerepacupai Merú: This river flows across the southeastern edge of Auyán-tepui’s summit before plunging over the cliff to create the main cascade of Angel Falls. The tepui’s lack of soil and vegetation on its summit results in rapid runoff, directing water into the river and over the edge.

During the rainy season, heavy rainfall significantly increases the volume of water flowing over the falls, creating a dramatic spectacle with intense mist and spray visible from miles away.

In the dry season, the flow diminishes, but the waterfall never dries out completely due to the persistent mist and localized rain patterns on the tepui.

This river, along with its seasonal variations, highlights the hydrological significance of Auyán-tepui’s summit as a rain-fed system, shaping both Angel Falls and the broader landscape of Canaima National Park.

The Devil’s Canyon and Auyán-tepui’s Role

Angel Falls plunges into the Cañón del Diablo (Devil’s Canyon), one of the most dramatic features of Auyán-tepui, the largest tepui in the Guiana Highlands. The canyon, carved over millions of years by the Churún River, serves as a natural amphitheater for the falls, amplifying their majesty.

Auyán-tepui: A Geological Marvel

Auyán-tepui’s summit spans 666.9 square kilometers (257.5 square miles), making it one of the largest tepuis in the world.
Its heart-shaped plateau rises unevenly, with altitudes ranging from 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) to a peak of 2,450 meters (8,040 feet).
Over millions of years, the Churún River eroded the quartz sandstone of Auyán-tepui, carving the steep walls of the Devil’s Canyon, in which Angel Falls is located.
The canyon serves as a corridor for water and sediment, connecting the summit’s rain-fed streams to the lowlands below.
The canyon walls host unique microhabitats, supporting rare plants and nesting birds like white-collared swifts.
The combination of rock, water, and vegetation creates a landscape of unparalleled diversity and beauty.
Known as “Devil’s Mountain” in the Pemon language, Auyán-tepui is steeped in Indigenous mythology. It is believed to be a sacred site, housing powerful spirits and ancient legends.

Discovery of Angel Falls

The discovery and naming of Angel Falls is a story of exploration, perseverance, and adventure.

Indigenous Knowledge: For centuries, the Pemon people knew of Angel Falls, calling it “Kerepakupai Merú” or “Parakupá Vená,” meaning “waterfall of the deepest place.” However, the region’s remote and sacred nature meant it was rarely visited.
Early European Mentions: In 1927, Spanish explorer Félix Cardona became one of the first Europeans to document the falls during an expedition to the region. Cardona shared his knowledge with Jimmie Angel, a bush pilot who was searching for gold deposits in the area.
Jimmie Angel’s Flight: On 16 November 1933, Jimmie Angel flew over the falls while searching for a rumored gold vein.
He returned in 1937, attempting to land his Flamingo monoplane, El Río Caroní, on Auyán-tepui’s summit. The plane’s wheels sank into the marshy ground, forcing Angel and his companions to trek down the tepui on foot—a journey that took 11 days.
Naming the Falls: The Venezuelan government officially named the waterfall Salto Ángel (Angel Falls) in 1939, in honor of Jimmie Angel’s daring exploration.
Angel’s plane remained stranded atop the tepui for 33 years before being retrieved and displayed at the Ciudad Bolívar airport.

Measuring the Falls

Determining the height of Angel Falls was a significant achievement in modern exploration and geography.

Initial Observations: Early explorers estimated the falls’ height but lacked precise measurement tools.
Ruth Robertson’s Expedition (1949): On 13 May 1949, American journalist Ruth Robertson led an expedition that conducted the first official survey of the falls.
Her team used photographic and topographic techniques to calculate the total height of 979 meters (3,212 feet), confirming Angel Falls as the world’s tallest waterfall.
Modern Debate: Despite this measurement, some modern studies suggest that South Africa’s Tugela Falls may rival Angel Falls in height. However, the consensus remains that Angel Falls holds the record for the tallest uninterrupted waterfall.