World 🢖 South America 🢖 Brazil 🢖 Amazonas
Wonder
Eldorado Falls (Aracá Falls)
In short
Although there are reports about taller waterfalls in Brazil, Eldorado Falls currently are declared to be the tallest ones. These 353 m (at least) tall falls are truly spectacular and are located in a spectacular natural setting.
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In detail
Serra do Aracá
This waterfall is located on the rim of Serra do Aracá – the southernmost plateau of Guyana Highlands, the only tepui entirely in the area of Brazil. This sandstone plateau rises more than one kilometer above the Amazonian plains and is isolated from the outside world by vertical walls. The summit of this plateau has numerous rare and unique species of plants and animals, many smaller waterfalls and caves including the world’s deepest cave in quartzites – the 671 m deep Abismo Guy Collet.
The fascinating legend about El Dorado – the ancient golden city of South American – often is referred to this location. Some consider that near the base of Serra do Aracá some centuries ago was Lake Parime with the golden Manoa City near it. According to legends, this lake dried out some centuries ago and now the lake bed and the golden city are covered with forest.
This remote tepui was one of the least explored areas of South America until the late 1980ies.
Over the rims of this large plateau (approximately 25 by 17 kilometers) are falling many spectacular waterfalls – Desabamento Falls, Anta Falls, Surpresa Falls and others. The largest and tallest though are Eldorado Falls.
This waterfall is located on the rim of Serra do Aracá – the southernmost plateau of Guyana Highlands, the only tepui entirely in the area of Brazil. This sandstone plateau rises more than one kilometer above the Amazonian plains and is isolated from the outside world by vertical walls. The summit of this plateau has numerous rare and unique species of plants and animals, many smaller waterfalls and caves including the world’s deepest cave in quartzites – the 671 m deep Abismo Guy Collet.
The fascinating legend about El Dorado – the ancient golden city of South American – often is referred to this location. Some consider that near the base of Serra do Aracá some centuries ago was Lake Parime with the golden Manoa City near it. According to legends, this lake dried out some centuries ago and now the lake bed and the golden city are covered with forest.
This remote tepui was one of the least explored areas of South America until the late 1980ies.
Over the rims of this large plateau (approximately 25 by 17 kilometers) are falling many spectacular waterfalls – Desabamento Falls, Anta Falls, Surpresa Falls and others. The largest and tallest though are Eldorado Falls.
Falls were measured in 2001 by an IBAMA (environmental authority in Brazil) expedition – then the resulting height of falls was 365 m. Now more often is given a slightly smaller figure – 357 m.
Currently falls are hard to access but nevertheless, rather many tourists manage to come here and there is even a muddy trail on the summit of the tepui, linking the best views on the falls.
Linked articles
Wonders of Brazil
Brazil is an enormous, diverse country with many amazing and unique attractions. Especially impressive are the diverse natural landmarks – many surprising geological monuments and areas with unique and endemic plants and animals. Few know it outside the country – but there are many beautiful historical cities. Many great monuments of architecture have been created in Brazil in the 20th century.
Waterfalls
Some of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring natural monuments are waterfalls or locations where a river abruptly changes its elevation.
Wonders of South America
There is little doubt – South America is one of the most spectacular… maybe the most spectacular continent of the world.
There is located the second-highest mountain chain in the world, the largest rainforest, the tallest volcanoes, and the tallest and largest waterfalls. The highest biological diversity in the world is reached somewhere near the eastern ranges of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, or Colombia.
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