Gran Sabana: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Kukenan_Roraima_GS.jpg|thumb|350px|View of the [[tepui]]s, [[Kukenan]] and [[Roraima]] with the Tëk river at front, in the Gran Sabana]] |
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La '''Gran Sabana''' ({{IPA-es|la ɣɾan saˈβana}}, {{lang-en|The Great Savanna}}), also known as '''Guianan savanna''', is a region located in southeastern [[Venezuela]], in the [[Guiana Highlands]], also south-east in [[Bolívar, Venezuela|Bolívar State]], and extending until the border with [[Brazil]] and [[Guyana]]. The Gran Sabana has 10,820 km ² and is part of one of the largest [[List of national parks of Venezuela|National Parks]] in Venezuela, the [[Canaima National Park]]. The average temperature is around 20 º C, but at night can drop to 13 ° C, and in some of the most elevated sites, depending on weather, may fall a bit more. The location offers unique landscapes around the world, has rivers, waterfalls and gorges, deep and vast valleys, impenetrable jungles, and savannahs that host a large number and variety of plant species, a diverse fauna, and the plateaus better known as tepuis. |
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The '''Gran Sabana''' ({{IPA-es|la ɣɾan saˈβana}}, {{lang-en|The Great Savanna}}), also known as '''Guianan savanna''', is a tropical grassland, savanna and shrubland [[ecoregion]] of northern [[Brazil]], [[Guyana]], and [[Venezuela]].<ref>*[http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/wildfinder/profiles/nt0707.html Guayanan savanna (World Wildlife Fund)]</ref> |
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==History== |
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The area has a [[tropics|tropical]] humid [[climate]] with an average temperature of 28 °C, but at night it can go down to 13 °C. The most important town in the region is [[Santa Elena de Uairen]], the municipal capital, which is 5 kilometers from the Venezuelan-Brazilian border. It has a population of approximately 12,000 inhabitants. |
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[[File:Gran Sabana Map.jpg|280px|thumb|Map of Venezuela and the Gran Sabana]] |
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During the time of the [[Colonial Venezuela|Conquest and Colonization]], the extent of the territories of Guiana and its natural resources gave rise to the legend of [[El Dorado]], which caught the attention of adventurers, explorers and settlers. They eventually came to these shores in search of gold, gems and other valuable products. Thus began the exploration of a territory so vast and difficult to access, which to date has several areas that nobody has come. |
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The Gran Sabana lies on a plateau with a mean altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level and is dotted with huge table-top mountains called [[tepui]]s, which rise dramatically from the surrounding plains. The tallest of the tepuis is [[Monte Roraima|Mount Roraima]] at 2,810 meters above sea level. Mount Roraima also marks the triple border point for [[Venezuela]], [[Brazil]] and [[Guyana]]. |
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[[Image:Kukenan Tepuy at Sunset.jpg|250px|thumb|Kukenan Tepuy at sunset.]] |
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Due to the richness and diversity, both biological and mineral and geographical of Southeast Guayana, was necessary to protect the territory by the [[Politics of Venezuela|Government of Venezuela]]. For this reason, Canaima was declared National Park, many years later by Executive Order No. 770 dated June 12, 1962. The park is the second largest of country. |
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The Gran Sabana is inhabited by several [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous groups]], including the [[Pemon]], who are the most numerous. [[Canaima National Park]], which was created by a decree on the 12th of June, 1962, encompasses most of the Gran Sabana but the areas do not exactly match. In 1975 the park was extended from the original 10,000 km² to 30,000 km², making it the sixth largest national park in the world. |
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The Canaima National Park now covers an area of about three million hectares (about 30,000 km ²), which places him among the six largest national parks in the world. However, its original area was of one million hectares, and did not include the territory of the Gran Sabana. |
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is an important natural attraction in [[Venezuela]], located in the south of [[Bolívar State (Venezuela)|Bolívar State]] on the [[Venezuela]]n-[[Brazil]]ian border, approximately 1,400 km from [[Caracas]]. The main attractions for visitors to the region are [[Angel Falls]], the world's highest waterfall, [[Monte Roraima|Mount Roraima]], the mountain which inspired [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s 1912 novel [[The Lost World (Arthur Conan Doyle)|The Lost World]], and the many other mountains and waterfalls. |
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[[File:Entrada Gran sabana.jpg|thumb|250px|left|INPARQUES poster placed at the entrance to la Gran Sabana, after La Escalera]] |
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It was enlarged in 1975 to cover several points of high ecological importance. Among those sites are: Carrao River Basin, the headwaters of the [[Caroní River]], the Sierra de Lema, the source of the [[Cuyuni River]] and the rolling plains, which form the Gran Sabana. Currently, the territory of the Gran Sabana is of 1,082 000 hectares, as shown in the image of the park entrance sign. |
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Currently, the Gran Sabana remains a place of high ecological value, not only for [[UNESCO]], proclaimed [[World Heritage Site]] in 1994 to give that title to Canaima National Park, but also to the Government, which promotes conservation and exploration, and for the people of Venezuela: Thousands of tourists visit the place every year. They can enjoy the variety of natural wonders in the park and delight both for the beauty of its places of interest (his only relief, shaped landscapes of the tepuis, waterfalls and streams), and its diversity of [[fauna]] and [[flora]]. The latter attract many scholars and scientists from around the world. Only in the Gran Sabana is 40% of the species of Venezuela, and 23% in terms of [[reptil]]es and [[amphibia]]ns, with many endemic species. |
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The largest city in the area is [[Santa Elena de Uairén]]. Has experienced very rapid growth, with a population of over 30,000 habitantes. It was founded in 1923 by Lucas Fernández Peña, attracted by the growth of diamonds in the area. Its average temperature is between 25 and 28 ° C. It is located at 910 meters above sea level, is 15 km from the border with Brazil, 615 km from [[Ciudad Guayana]], and about 1,400 km from [[Caracas]], paved road. The total population of the Gran Sabana is currently estimated at about 48,000 habitantes. |
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==Flora and fauna== |
==Flora and fauna== |
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[[Category:Geography of Venezuela]] |
[[Category:Geography of Venezuela]] |
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[[Category:Bolívar (state)]] |
[[Category:Bolívar (state)]] |
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[[Category:Ecoregions of Brazil]] |
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[[Category:Ecoregions of Guyana]] |
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[[Category:Ecoregions of Venezuela]] |
[[Category:Ecoregions of Venezuela]] |
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Revision as of 16:23, 4 August 2012
La Gran Sabana (Spanish pronunciation: [la ɣɾan saˈβana], English: The Great Savanna), also known as Guianan savanna, is a region located in southeastern Venezuela, in the Guiana Highlands, also south-east in Bolívar State, and extending until the border with Brazil and Guyana. The Gran Sabana has 10,820 km ² and is part of one of the largest National Parks in Venezuela, the Canaima National Park. The average temperature is around 20 º C, but at night can drop to 13 ° C, and in some of the most elevated sites, depending on weather, may fall a bit more. The location offers unique landscapes around the world, has rivers, waterfalls and gorges, deep and vast valleys, impenetrable jungles, and savannahs that host a large number and variety of plant species, a diverse fauna, and the plateaus better known as tepuis.
History
During the time of the Conquest and Colonization, the extent of the territories of Guiana and its natural resources gave rise to the legend of El Dorado, which caught the attention of adventurers, explorers and settlers. They eventually came to these shores in search of gold, gems and other valuable products. Thus began the exploration of a territory so vast and difficult to access, which to date has several areas that nobody has come.
Due to the richness and diversity, both biological and mineral and geographical of Southeast Guayana, was necessary to protect the territory by the Government of Venezuela. For this reason, Canaima was declared National Park, many years later by Executive Order No. 770 dated June 12, 1962. The park is the second largest of country.
The Canaima National Park now covers an area of about three million hectares (about 30,000 km ²), which places him among the six largest national parks in the world. However, its original area was of one million hectares, and did not include the territory of the Gran Sabana.
It was enlarged in 1975 to cover several points of high ecological importance. Among those sites are: Carrao River Basin, the headwaters of the Caroní River, the Sierra de Lema, the source of the Cuyuni River and the rolling plains, which form the Gran Sabana. Currently, the territory of the Gran Sabana is of 1,082 000 hectares, as shown in the image of the park entrance sign.
Currently, the Gran Sabana remains a place of high ecological value, not only for UNESCO, proclaimed World Heritage Site in 1994 to give that title to Canaima National Park, but also to the Government, which promotes conservation and exploration, and for the people of Venezuela: Thousands of tourists visit the place every year. They can enjoy the variety of natural wonders in the park and delight both for the beauty of its places of interest (his only relief, shaped landscapes of the tepuis, waterfalls and streams), and its diversity of fauna and flora. The latter attract many scholars and scientists from around the world. Only in the Gran Sabana is 40% of the species of Venezuela, and 23% in terms of reptiles and amphibians, with many endemic species.
The largest city in the area is Santa Elena de Uairén. Has experienced very rapid growth, with a population of over 30,000 habitantes. It was founded in 1923 by Lucas Fernández Peña, attracted by the growth of diamonds in the area. Its average temperature is between 25 and 28 ° C. It is located at 910 meters above sea level, is 15 km from the border with Brazil, 615 km from Ciudad Guayana, and about 1,400 km from Caracas, paved road. The total population of the Gran Sabana is currently estimated at about 48,000 habitantes.
Flora and fauna
The area contains a number of unique plant species that have adapted to the specific and sometimes harsh environment of the area.
Access
To get to la Gran Sabana by road one must go by the tarmac road from El Dorado to Brazil. Alternatively, one can fly to Santa Elena de Uairen. To access the best attractions, one would take a 4x4. Kavak can only be reached by air.
References
External links
