Angel Falls

Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) is a waterfall in Bolívar state, southeastern Venezuela, located inside Canaima National Park. It is the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a total drop of about 979 metres.

The most dramatic view is the uninterrupted plunge of roughly 807 metres from the lip of the Auyán-tepui plateau into the gorge below. Sightings are commonly made from small sightseeing aircraft and from river trips that finish at the base plunge pool, with nearby viewpoints on foot for close-up views.

The falls are named after U.S. aviator Jimmie (Jimmy) Angel, who flew over them in 1933 and made a famous landing on Auyán-tepui in 1937. The waterfall and surrounding tepuis are natural features carved over geological time; the area was designated part of Canaima National Park, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Angel Falls sits in a remote section of Canaima National Park in Bolívar state, in southeastern Venezuela, rising from the edge of Auyán-tepui. The nearest settlement used for access is the village of Canaima; most travel requires flights or river journeys through dense rainforest.

• Access and season: Peak water flow occurs in the rainy season, and the falls are easiest to reach by small aircraft or by multi-day river-and-jungle boat trips from Canaima village.
• Height: The waterfall has a total height of about 979 metres, with the main uninterrupted plunge around 807 metres, making it the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world.

What to See #

• Auyán-tepui: A flat-topped sandstone massif standing about 2,500 metres above sea level; the falls drop from its southern edge over a sheer cliff known as the Auyán-tepui plateau.
• Canaima village: A settlement and river access point used by most visitors as the staging village for boat and flight trips to the falls, located inside Canaima National Park.