Guayana Highlands is higher, but rather smaller of them. The mountain belt penetrates into territories of six states, i.e.: Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana. Guyana Highlands takes, with its space, more than 700 000 square kilometres. As far as its formation is concerned, it could be similar to flat oval, enlarged in west-east direction. Highland´s north border presents low flow of Orinoco-river, whereas on east and in south, the terrain is passing to Amazon Valley. In the west, the area is bordered with Rio Negro Valley, the greatest Amazon tributary from left part. Typical sign of local table mountains is presented with rock mountains, raising up to 1000 metres height. No doubt, the highest peaks are built by Roraima formation (Roraima, in past, taken for the highest point of the whole highlands), Pico Neblina or Juliana Top. Just Pico da Neblina (3014 m) is the highest peak of the highlands. The mountain is placed in Macizo de la Neblina, sandstone mountain range (situated in Brazil. It is the highest mountain of this state at the same time). Nevertheless, the altitude of 2500 metres above sea level is passed by many other mountains in west part of highlands, whereas relatively smaller height of east part illustrates the highest peak of this area, i.e. Juliana Top, placed in Surinam (1230 m). All massifs of highlands are not exactly put into cards till now. The reason for this fact is simple: cloudy weather conditions prevail all the time above top parts of mountains.

The area of Guyana Highlands is very rich on precipitation: it is interesting fact that local precipitations are four times or five times higher as in Czech Republic. In very exposed regions, the precipitations reach more than 3000 mm in a year. Avedrage year temperatures in lower parts of highlands exceed 25° C. Anyway, they decrease with the altitude and on surface of table mountains, where the average drops to 12-15° C, and you can measure the values, approaching even to 0° C.

Owing to that climatic conditions, great number of rivers and waterfalls could be found on highlands territory. So, most known and the highest waterfall of the globe is those of Salto Angel. Kerepacupai-river falls into one thousand metres deep precipice (it is exactly 979 metres deep). Their nature jewel was discovered early in 1935. Jimmy Angel, aviator and gold seeker, found it. Nevertheless, there are to be found in Guyana Highlands many waterfalls, exceeding the height of many hundred metres.

In Guyana Highlands, you meet, first of all, rain virgin forest. On the other hand, an unneglected part is occupied by savannas, spreaded mainly at low flow of Orinoco-river. This rain forest is very diverse. So, to most copse belong, for instance: caoutchouc-tree, bromelia and orchids. More than 1000 of plant sorts have endemic character. Inside luxuriant green, you can meet rich fauna sorts, such as: anaconda-serpent, Brazil rattle snake, bats, crocodiles, jaguars, ant-eaters, toed sloths, ara parrtots, etc. It is worth to mention Canaima National Park (30 000 square kilometres extention), covering most of Grand Sabana table land, placed inside highlands.

Guayana Highlands is, inside its less accessible places, really lost world of human race. Yanoman Indian tribe presents the oldest representant of Guyana population. Wild countryside on border of Orinoco and Amazon rivers is their home land. Small, rather „independent“ Indian tribes, where you cannot find their language relationship, and are known as the oldest Guayana inhabitants,are living in the other localities. So called „white wave colonization“ started just in 16th century. Most of half-breed communities were established within 19th century, whem golden mines in El Callao (East Venezuela) were in operation. This layer gave up eight tonnes of gold in a year. Now, white men and half-breed live mostly at the edge of the highland. This could give some hope for survival of Indian tribes living in inland. Colonization density of the whole highlands is less than one person in one square kilometer.

Text: J. Štantejský

Photo: Panoramio.com – bobshut, PaulWoody, Peter van der Sleen, Gigliola Vignola, Caleffi, TaylorNunes, lourdes maldonado, bojonovi, peter7349