Los Testigos

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Los Testigos
Venezuela relief location map (+claimed).jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Location in Venezuela
Highest point
Peak Kamarkawarai-tepui
Elevation 2,400 m (7,900 ft)
Geography
Location Bolívar, Venezuela
Range coordinates 05°52′N62°03′W / 5.867°N 62.050°W / 5.867; -62.050 Coordinates: 05°52′N62°03′W / 5.867°N 62.050°W / 5.867; -62.050

Los Testigos, also known as the Aparamán range, is a mountain chain in Bolívar, Venezuela. [1] It consists of four rather small tepuis, forming a bridge between the giant Auyán-tepui to the west and Ptari-tepui to the east. The four major peaks of Los Testigos are (west to east): Aparamán-tepui (2,100 m), Murisipán-tepui (2,350 m), Tereke-yurén-tepui (1,900 m), and Kamarkawarai-tepui (2,400 m), the latter three sharing a common slope area. [1] There however remains some confusion in the literature regarding the names of these peaks. [nb a]

Mountain chain row of mountains within a larger mountain range

A mountain chain is a row of high mountain summits, a linear sequence of interconnected or related mountains, or a contiguous ridge of mountains within a larger mountain range. The term is also used for elongated fold mountains with several parallel chains.

Venezuela Republic in northern South America

Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and a large number of small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. The capital and largest urban agglomeration is the city of Caracas. It has a territorial extension of 916,445 km2. The continental territory is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Colombia, Brazil on the south, Trinidad and Tobago to the north-east and on the east by Guyana. With this last country, the Venezuelan government maintains a claim for Guayana Esequiba over an area of 159,542 km2. For its maritime areas, it exercises sovereignty over 71,295 km2 of territorial waters, 22,224 km2 in its contiguous zone, 471,507 km2 of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean under the concept of exclusive economic zone, and 99,889 km2 of continental shelf. This marine area borders those of 13 states. The country has extremely high biodiversity and is ranked seventh in the world's list of nations with the most number of species. There are habitats ranging from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazon basin rain-forest in the south via extensive llanos plains, the Caribbean coast and the Orinoco River Delta in the east.

Tepui A table-top mountain or mesa in the Guiana Highlands of South America

A tepui, or tepuy, is a table-top mountain or mesa found in the Guiana Highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela and western Guyana. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana.

Contents

The Los Testigos chain has a total summit area of around 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi) and an estimated slope area of 116 km2 (45 sq mi) (the collective slope area of the three eastern tepuis being around 88 km2 (34 sq mi), with the isolated Aparamán-tepui contributing a further 28 km2 (11 sq mi)). [1] The chain is situated entirely within the bounds of Canaima National Park. [2]

Canaima National Park ark in south-eastern Venezuela

Canaima National Park is a 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) park in south-eastern Venezuela that roughly occupies the same area as the Gran Sabana region. It is located in Bolívar State, reaching the borders with Brazil and Guyana.

In line with and to the west of the Los Testigos chain lies the Los Hermanos massif, which consists of two upland peaks: Amaruay-tepui and Padapué-tepui. Both massifs are located northeast of the Catholic mission at Kamarata. [1]

Panoramic view from Kavanayen in the Gran Sabana, looking northwards. The large forested ridge taking up much of the frame is Sororopan-tepui, with Ptari-tepui visible just behind. Moving left is Mona-tepui and then, off in the distance, the Los Testigos chain, beginning with Kamarkawarai-tepui. Kavanayen panoramica tepuys.jpg
Panoramic view from Kavanayén in the Gran Sabana, looking northwards. The large forested ridge taking up much of the frame is Sororopán-tepui, with Ptari-tepui visible just behind. Moving left is Moná-tepui and then, off in the distance, the Los Testigos chain, beginning with Kamarkawarai-tepui.

See also

Notes

a. ^ Otto Huber summarised this toponymic confusion as follows: "There is, however, confusion concerning the precise names of the two central mountains; according to Brewer-Carías (1978), Murochiopán-tepui is the name of a smaller lateral mountain of Aparamán, followed to the east by the high Tereke Yurén-tepui and the lower Tucuy-wo-cuyén-tepui, whereas members of the Terramar Foundation expeditions (Steyermark 1986a; Holst 1987; George 1988) apply the name Murisipán-tepui to Brewer's Tereke Yurén-tepui, and the name Tereke-yurén-tepui to Brewer's Tucuy-wo-cuyén-tepui, omitting the name of the smaller lateral mountain of Aparamán-tepui." [1] A yet different sequence (and spelling) of names can be found in, for example, the formal description of Heliamphora folliculata , namely: Murosipan, Aparaman, Tereke-Yuren, and Kamarkaiwaran. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Heliamphora folliculata</i> species of plant

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Upuigma-tepui mountain in Venezuela

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Aprada-tepui mountain

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Araopán-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Araopán-tepui is a tepui in Bolívar state, Venezuela. It has an elevation of around 2,450 metres (8,040 ft) above sea level. Together with the larger Aprada-tepui to the west, it forms part of the Aprada Massif. A steep, semi-circular ridge connects these two summits.

Chimantá Massif

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Kamarkawarai-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Kamarkawarai-tepui, also spelled Kamarkaiwaran or Camarcai-barai, is the easternmost and tallest of the four main tepuis of the Los Testigos chain in Bolívar, Venezuela. It is connected to the two nearest peaks of the massif—Murisipán-tepui and Tereke-yurén-tepui—by a common basement. The mostly bare summit plateau of Kamarkawarai-tepui has a large, collapsed sinkhole opening in its western portion.

Aparamán-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Aparamán-tepui is the westernmost of the four main tepuis of the Los Testigos chain in Bolívar, Venezuela. While the other three tepuis share a common slope area, Aparamán is derived from a separate basement. Aparamán-tepui has an elevation of around 2,100 metres (6,900 ft), a summit area of 1.25 km2 (0.48 sq mi), and an estimated slope area of 28 km2 (11 sq mi). Its mostly bare summit plateau is highly dissected, presenting difficulties even for helicopter landings.

Murisipán-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Murisipán-tepui, also spelled Murosipán or Murochiopán, is one of the four main tepuis of the Los Testigos chain in Bolívar, Venezuela. Looking west to east, it is the second major peak of the massif and is connected to the next two—Tereke-yurén-tepui and Kamarkawarai-tepui—by a common basement. Murisipán-tepui has an elevation of around 2,350 metres (7,700 ft) and a summit area of 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi). The mountain's mostly bare summit plateau has a small, seasonal lagoon near its centre.

Tereke-yurén-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Tereke-yurén-tepui is one of the four main tepuis of the Los Testigos chain in Bolívar, Venezuela. Looking west to east, it is the third major peak of the massif and is connected to Murisipán-tepui and Kamarkawarai-tepui by a common basement. With a summit area of 0.63 km2 (0.24 sq mi) and an elevation of around 1,900 metres (6,200 ft), Tereke-yurén-tepui is both the smallest and lowest of the four peaks. Its summit plateau comprises mostly bare rock.

Angasima-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Angasima-tepui, also known as Adanta, Adankasima or Adankachimö, is a tepui in Bolívar state, Venezuela. A relatively isolated peak, both it and nearby Upuigma-tepui lie just south of the vast Chimantá Massif, from which they are separated by the Río Aparurén valley. Amurí-tepui, the closest member of the Chimantá Massif, is only 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Angasima-tepui.

Eastern Tepuis

The Eastern Tepuis, also known as the Roraima–Ilú range, is a mountain chain stretching for some 60 kilometres (37 mi) along the border between the disputed territory of Guayana Esequiba in Guyana, Venezuela and, to a small extent, Brazil. It runs in a northwesterly direction from the tripoint of these countries, closely following the Guyana–Venezuela border, with a single major peak (Uei-tepui) to the south, on the Brazil–Venezuela border. Moving northwest from Uei-tepui (2,150 m), the main summits of this chain are Roraima-tepui (2,810 m), Kukenán-tepui (2,650 m), Yuruaní-tepui (2,400 m), Wadakapiapué-tepui (2,000 m), Karaurín-tepui (2,500 ), Ilú-tepui (2,700 m), and Tramen-tepui. The minor peak of Wei-Assipu-tepui lies entirely outside Venezuela, on the border between Brazil and Guyana. Additionally, there are a number of minor plateaus which form a chain between Uei-tepui and Roraima-tepui. Ilú- and Tramen-tepuis are often treated together since they are joined by a common base.

Yuruaní-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Yuruaní-tepui, also known by the Pemón name Iwalkarima, Iwalecalima or Iwarkárima, is a tepui of the Eastern Tepuis chain primarily situated in Venezuela, while part of the eastern ridge stretches into the disputed Guayana Esequiba territory in Guyana. It has an elevation of around 2,400 metres (7,900 ft), the high plateau being located entirely within Venezuela, and a summit area of 4.38 km2 (1.69 sq mi). It lies just east of the much smaller Wadakapiapué-tepui. This Tepui is not located in the Canaima National Park unlike most other Tepuis in the area.

Uaipán-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Uaipán-tepui, also spelled Waipán, is a tepui in Bolívar state, Venezuela. It is a southern satellite peak of the vast Auyán Massif, with a maximum elevation of around 1,950 metres (6,400 ft). Its mostly forested summit plateau has an area of 2.5 km2 (0.97 sq mi). The mountain's slope area has been estimated at 60 km2 (23 sq mi).

Ptari-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Ptari-tepui, also spelled Pu-tari and sometimes called Cerro Budare or Cerro del Budare, is a tepui in Bolívar state, Venezuela. Lying near the centre of the Sierra de Lema, it has a maximum elevation of around 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) above sea level. Its mostly bare summit plateau has an area of 1.25 km2 (0.48 sq mi). Though generally flat, distinctive erosional rock formations are found on the more dissected eastern edge of the summit.

Sororopán-tepui mountain in Venezuela

Sororopán-tepui is a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) long ridge in Bolívar state, Venezuela. It has a maximum elevation of around 2,050 m (6,730 ft) and its densely forested slopes cover an estimated area of 30 km2 (12 sq mi). The ridge has a southwest–northeast orientation and is characterised by a steep southern face. Part of the Ptari Massif, it lies just south of Carrao-tepui and neighbouring Ptari-tepui.

Cerro Aracamuni mountain in Venezuela

Cerro Aracamuni is a tepui in Amazonas state, Venezuela. Part of the Neblina–Aracamuni Massif, it lies north of Cerro Avispa and the vast complex of Cerro de la Neblina. Cerro Aracamuni and Cerro Avispa share a common slope area; they have a combined summit area of 238 km2 (92 sq mi) and an estimated combined slope area of 658 km2 (254 sq mi). Both of these cerro-plateaus have a maximum elevation of around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft).

Cerro Avispa

Cerro Avispa is a tepui in Amazonas state, Venezuela. Part of the Neblina–Aracamuni Massif, it lies south of Cerro Aracamuni and north of Cerro de la Neblina. Cerro Avispa and Cerro Aracamuni have a combined summit area of 238 km2 (92 sq mi) and an estimated combined slope area of 658 km2 (254 sq mi). Both of these cerro-plateaus have a maximum elevation of around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Huber, O. (1995). Geographical and physical features. In: P.E. Berry, B.K. Holst & K. Yatskievych (eds.) Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Volume 1. Introduction. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. pp. 1–61.
  2. (in Spanish) Torres, I.N. & D.D. Martín (November 2007). "Informe Final de la Evaluación del Parque Nacional Canaima, Venezuela, como Sitio de Patrimonio Natural de la Humanidad" (PDF). Mejorando Nuestra Herencia.
  3. Wistuba, A., P. Harbarth & T. Carow (December 2001). Heliamphora folliculata, a new species of Heliamphora (Sarraceniaceae) from the ‘Los Testigos’ table mountains in the south of Venezuela. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 30(4): 120–125.

Further reading