Waterfalls are one of the unique phenomena of nature. Angel Falls in the South American country of Venezuela is falling from a height of 3212 feet in the Canaima National Park of Venezuela.
Therefore, it holds the honor of the highest waterfall in the world. It is generally believed that Niagara Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, but it is contrary to the fact that the water of this waterfall is twenty times lower than Niagara Falls.
The guna falls down from a greater height. If you want to estimate the height of “Angel Falls”, keep in mind that it is three times higher than the Eiffel Tower in France.
In 1949, the “National Geographic Society” formally measured this waterfall, after which it was determined that it is the highest waterfall in the world with 3212 feet. Its unique thing is that it is the only one in the world.
There is a waterfall whose stream of water flows from top to bottom without hitting any rock or hill directly below the surface of the earth.
An interesting thing is that the water of this waterfall falling from a height of more than one kilometer takes only 14 seconds to reach the ground. Access to this waterfall is difficult due to its high altitude and difficult paths.
Secondly, this waterfall is located in a hot region covered with thick forests, where rains are frequent. Therefore, tourists cannot reach this waterfall easily.
Tourists from far away prefer to arrive here by plane from the capital Caracas. By the way, the number of people enjoying this highest waterfall in the world remains all year round, but in the months of May to October, it seems like a flood of tourists has come.
When was Angel Falls discovered?
Although some say that in the early 1910s, a Spanish explorer named Ernesto Sanchezla Cruz witnessed the “Angel Falls”, this could not be confirmed due to insufficient and authentic evidence.
However, from the available and authentic evidence, it has been revealed that Angel Falls did not attract human attention until 1935. It was during this period when an American adventurer, an aviator, was flying in search of gold.
On the ground below lies an attractive and mesmerizing waterfall amidst beautiful valleys. James Crawford Angel, an aviator, had passed this route several times before, but this beautiful sight remained hidden from his sight.
He wanted to stop here and enjoy this enchanting scene, but due to lack of time, he could not do so, however, in the next year i.e. 1936, the beauty of this beautiful waterfall drew him here. This was the first official landing by a human being.
The area around this lake was called “Kerepakupai” by the locals, but after the arrival of this astronaut, the falls became known as “Angel Falls”.
There is no doubt that this aviator named Angel has played a significant role in introducing and attracting the attention of people to this attractive and fascinating waterfall.
Why is the name of the waterfall controversial?
In Venezuela, the first public calls to debunk “Angel Falls” were heard in the early 21st century. Public circles said that when the name of the waterfall area is formally ‘Caripeco Pai’, then naming this popular tourist destination after a foreigner is tantamount to indifference to the local culture.
At that time, this protest of a handful of people could not be accepted by the higher authorities. In 2002, when the revolutionary president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, gained access to power for the second time, this demand began to rise again at the public level, which gradually increased.
And Hugo Chávez also had to admit that yes, this waterfall It would be more appropriate to call it “Carapico Pie” as the ancient people of the area called the place by that name. This was the first acknowledgment at the government level about the change in the name of this waterfall.
When President Hugo Chavez openly supported this demand in a TV program in 2009, there was a wave of happiness among the people. Hugo Chavez was saying, “How can the people of Venezuela believe that the highest waterfall in the world was discovered by a man who himself flew in a plane from the United States?”
As far as locating this waterfall is concerned, we value it in our hearts but the name of this waterfall should be changed. And the actual name of this waterfall should be “Ker Ipeko Pai”.
Going forward, President Chavez was saying, “We can say that James Crawford Angel saw this waterfall from an airplane for the first time, but it is also possible that millions of local people saw this waterfall before that.”
At the end of the interview, President Chavez addressed the people and said that in the future, this waterfall should avoid being identified as “Angel Falls”.