Mérida cable car
The Meridabahn ( Span. teleférico de Mérida ) was the cable car to the highest mountain station for tourist passenger transport in the world. She led from the outskirts of the 1,500 m high Mérida in Venezuela to Pico Espejo at 4,765 m altitude.
The 12,550 meter long cableway consisted of four sections, overcoming a difference in altitude of 3,188 meters. The Aerial tramway led from the valley station Barinitas ( 1,577 m) via the intermediate stations La Montaña ( 2,436 m ), La Aguada ( 3,452 m) and Loma Redonda ( 4,045 m) to the mountain station Pico Espejo ( 4765 m). The respective height differences were: a) 859 m, b ) 1.016 m, c ) 593 m d) 720 m.
From the station La Montaña from a beautiful panoramic view offered to Merida, from the upper station was the view to Pico La Concha ( 4,922 m) and the highest mountain in Venezuela, Pico Bolívar ( 4,981 m ), both year-round snow-capped peaks. On the Pico Espejo is a white, about 2.5 m high statue of Mary the Virgen de las Nieves.
The cable car went back to an initiative of the Club Andino Venezolano in 1952, mentioned in a plaque at the mountain station recalls. It was built in the years 1958-1960 by the French company Applevage under the direction of Maurice Comte. The project involved 25 international suppliers such as the Company Heckel from Germany and Habegger from Switzerland.
On November 24, 1991, came in the fourth section to a crash by gondola cable break, which claimed two lives.
In August 2008, the facility has been inspected by experts from Europe. This revealed that the cable car had after 50 years reached the end of its useful life. On the Venezuelan government, gave a recommendation to cease operation immediately and due to serious wear and tear to replace the system with a new building. The Meridabahn was shut down then. Later the company Doppelmayr was awarded the contract to replace the 4 cable cars. The reopening was scheduled for April 2013. According to recent information are to be held on the first three sections in the fall of 2013 detailed test drives.