Kaieteur Falls

5.1781111111111 - 59.482277777778Koordinaten: 5 ° 10 ' 41.2 "N, 59 ° 28' 56.2 " W

The Kaieteur Falls of Potaro River lie at the entrance to Potaro Gorge, in the region Potaro - Siparuni of Guyana ( South America).

The Kaieteur Falls are among the most spectacular waterfalls in the world and the highest waterfalls in America. Here the Potaro River plunges in a single step at a latitude of nearly one hundred meters over a sandstone cliff 247 m from the highlands of Guyana in the lying approximately at sea level lowlands. In 1908, the German - American biologist Carl H. Eigenmann reached the lying in the then British colony of British Guiana waterfalls.

The waterfalls are the subject of the documentary The White Diamond by Werner Herzog.

Near the Kaieteur Falls is the type locality of the rare mineral Potarit, which is named after the river Potaro.

Saga

The name of the Kaieteur Falls comes from a legend of Patamona Indians, which have been repeatedly plagued by warlike Caribs. The chief Kai turned to the spirit Makunaima and got into a canoe, with whom he fell with the water masses in the deep. Thus he could bring to the country of his tribe peace.

Animals

Away from the waterfall makes this is the habitat for a number of exotic animals and plants, as well as for many rare species that can be observed there. There, among other things, live the rare golden frogs, which have their hiding in bromeliads along the trails. In sunny weather you have the opportunity to discover lizards which bask on warm rocks. Birds, such as macaws, swallows, or Guyanese rock rooster build their nests here.