Sarisariñama: A Lost World
Located in the Jaua-Sarisariñama National Park, in the Cedeño municipality of Bolívar state (Venezuela), it is formed by three main plateaus that the indigenous people Ye'kwana or Makiritare baptized as: Maquiritare Jaua-Jidi, Sariñama-Jidi and Guanacoco-Jidi . The tepuyes are protected as natural monuments, and the passage to tourists is restricted, so to access this area must request a special permit that is exclusive for researchers.
The Sarisariñama massif is one of the most isolated and remote places in the country as well as in Latin America, the nearest road can leave us hundreds of kilometers away and restrictions on the passage of tourists have allowed us to preserve a unique ecosystem. In the year 1964 Harry Gibson, was the first to observe the chasms of the Sarisariñama, during an air pass, however it was not until 1967 when the ornithologist William Phelps carried out the first landing on the tepuy, and seven years later, Charles Brewer led the first exploration in the tepuy.
With approximately 2,300 meters of height, 547km2 at its summit and a slope of 482km2 of area, the Sarisariñama presents forested extensions of flat terrain with forest species up to 15-25 meters high that cover most of a surface characterized by presence of four immense depressions, furrowed by deep cracks, making this mountain a unique place in the world.
These gigantic cavities have a diameter of 350 meters and around 300-350 meters deep. Its walls are completely vertical so it is impossible for the species that inhabit the bottom of the cliff to reach the surface, and for that reason it is considered that all the plants and animals that are found there are unique in the planet, keeping their ecosystem still virgin.
Two of the known wells are named Cueva Sima Humboldt and Sima Martel, in homage to the naturalists Alejandro de Humboldt and Éduoard Martel, the first being the largest with 352 meters wide and 314 meters deep. Another of the depressions of the Sarisariñama is known as the La Lluvia chasm and has been the most relevant in terms of the exploration of erosion processes in tepuyes, it is 1.35 km long.
Some indigenous groups belonging to the ethnic group Ye'kwana or Makiritare live in this park, their activities are based on agriculture, gathering, hunting and fishing. To reach this region you can get there by car, departing from Caicara del Orinoco to the state of Amazonas; It is a waterway following the waters of the Caura River, but the most common and safest way is to fly by helicopter to observe its incredible beauty, the immense chasms of Sarisariñama being perfectly visible.