What Are Tepuis?

• Tepuis are flat-topped mountains, almost entirely found in Venezuela, with a few extending into neighboring Brazil and Guyana. Venezuela hosts over 90% of the world’s tepuis, making it their true global epicenter.
• These formations are remnants of ancient sandstone plateaus, dating back over 2 billion years, making them some of the oldest geological structures on Earth.
• Tepuis are often described as “islands in the sky” because their sheer cliffs isolate their summits from the surrounding lowlands. This isolation has led to the evolution of unique ecosystems atop each tepui.
• Each tepui is home to endemic plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. For example, the carnivorous Heliamphora pitcher plants thrive on many tepuis’ summits.
• To the indigenous Pemon people, tepuis are sacred, believed to be the homes of powerful spirits and ancient beings. The term “tepui” comes from the Pemon language, meaning “house of the gods”.
• Mount Roraima, one of the most famous tepuis, inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel The Lost World and has become an iconic trekking destination.
• Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall on Earth, plunges from the cliffs of Auyán-tepui, dropping nearly 1,000 meters.