Rocks on the top of Roraima are estimated to be at least 1.8 billion years old,
making them some of the oldest on earth. Tepuis are unique
in that they rise up vertically many thousands of feet from the surrounding
landscape. Consequently, the tops of the tepuis are very isolated and the plant and animal
life there has evolved separately from their surroundings. Plant life
on the tepuis is 100% native - i.e. not introduced by man as is common in many
inhabited places of the world - and it's estimated that 50% of the plant
species are unique to each tepui.
There is a great article about Roraima in the May, 1989 issue of National
Geographic, pp 526-561.
I hope you enjoy my photos of Roraima Tepui in Venezuela.
Roraima is something of a maze of naturally eroded rock sculptures, ponds
of crystal clear water, bogs of soft mucky moss, and gardens of unique
plants and flowers, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.
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One of the interesting sights on Roraima is the Valley of Crystals. In
contrast to the black boulders found everywhere, the Valley of Crystals is
full of very large white and clear quartz crystals.
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The top of Roraima is fairly inhospitable, getting quite cold at night and
usually wet from actual rain or the moisture of the clouds, which engulf the
top almost nightly. The best campsites are known as "hotels", which are
really ledges on rock walls that offer protection from the elements by
overhanging rock.
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A photo of our campsite on a rock ledge on Roraima.
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