Monte Roraima

From Freepedia

Monte Roraima
Elevation:	2,810 metres (9,219 feet)
Location:	Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela
Range:	Guiana Highlands

<tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor="#e7dcc3" width=85>Coordinates: <td style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220>5°11′ N 60°46′ W <tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor=#e7dcc3 width=85>First ascent: <td style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220>1884 by Everard Im Thurn and Harry Perkins <tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor=#e7dcc3 width=85>Easiest route: <td style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220>hike </table> Monte Roraima (Also: Mount Roraima, Cerro Roraima, Pico do Roraima, Roroima) is the highest of the table-top tabletop mountains (or tepuis) shared between Venezuela, Guyana (disputed by Venezuela) and the Roraima state of Brazil. It is the highest elevation in Guyana, though Venezuela and Brazil have taller mountains. Roraima is a sandstone plateau rising above the surrounding savannahs and forest, and marks the dividing spot of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. The "Triple Point", where the three national boundaries meet, is at 2739 metres (8986 feet). It is in the southeastern corner of Venezuela's 30,000 km² Canaima National Park. The table mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to the Precambrian Era, some two billion years ago. The average height of the plateau is around 2,500 metres (8,200 feet), and the steep sides of the plateau makes it difficult to access. However, it was the first major tepui to be climbed: Sir Everard im Thurn walked up a forested ramp in 1884 to scale the strangely wind-and-water sculpted plateau. It is thought that the reports from early Victorian expeditions to the mountain inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write his classic adventure yarn, The Lost World, in 1912 - now made into countless films.

Climbing routes

Today, Monte Roraima is a destination for backpackers. Almost all who go up the mountain approach it from the Venezuelan side. Most hikers hire a guide in the nearby village of Paratepui, Venezuela. Although the path to reach the plateau is well marked and popularly traveled, it is easy to get lost on top of the mountain as there are few distinct trails and the near constant cloud cover on top makes visual references problematic. Paratepui means "to the tepui". It is a short distance off a paved highway and it may be reached easily by four wheel drive vehicle, with great difficulty by car if the unpaved road conditions are unusually fine, or by foot in about a day. From Paratepui, most hikers take one day to reach the base of the mountain, and then another day to follow "El Rampa" a natural staircase-like path, up to the top. Another two days are typically needed for the return, and many people spend one day on top of the mountain for five days total.

The only non-technical route to the top is the Paratepui route; any other approach will involve climbing gear. The mountain has been climbed from the Guyana and Brazil sides but these are technical rock climbing routes.

It is also possible to take a helicopter journey to the top of the mountain to avoid the climb.

Other Facts

• Monte Roraima is the highest point for 549.44 kilometres (341.48 miles). The nearest taller neighbor is Cerro Marahuaca (to the WSW)

External Links

• Monte Roraima on SummitPost.org
• Monte Raraima on Peakbagger.com
• TheLostWorld, with more about Mount Roraima and Canaima National Park