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Hugo Chavez wants to rename Angel Falls
Standing at a height of 3212 feet, Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world. Located in southern Venezuela's Canaima National Park, the falls are a UNESCO World Heritage site and are named for Jimmie Angel, an American pilot who first spotted them from the air back in 1933. He would later bring photos to the world of that astounding sight, making the falls famous across the globe. Now, however, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is looking to rename the falls, restoring their indigenous name. Amongst the local Pemon people, Angel Falls is known as Kerepakupai-Meru, which means "waterfall of the deepest place" in their tribal language. On his weekly television show, Chavez, who has a contentious relationship with the United States, asked his countrymen how they felt about the falls being named after the American aviator, and then proposed the change after fumbling with the pronunciation a few times. The Venezuelan President went on to say that the landmark, which is one of his country's biggest tourist attractions, had been seen by many indigenous people before Angel ever arrived on the scene. He concluded his declaration by saying "No-one should refer to Angel Falls any more."
The falls are fed by the Kerep River, which plunges over the side of the Auyan-tepui. The drop is so massive, that strong mountain winds actually atomize the water before it reaches the ground, turning into a fine mist. That mist does reform at the bottom however and continues the flow of the Kerep, which eventually empties into the Churun River further down stream.
Despite the fact that the falls are a major draw for tourists, there are few resources available to make it an easy place to visit. Going to the falls requires a flight to Canaima camp, where visitors can board small wooden boats during the rainy season, and approach the falls from below. Those that make the trip, are treated to quite the natural wonder.
The current name for that natural wonder is now open to debate.
Despite the fact that the falls are a major draw for tourists, there are few resources available to make it an easy place to visit. Going to the falls requires a flight to Canaima camp, where visitors can board small wooden boats during the rainy season, and approach the falls from below. Those that make the trip, are treated to quite the natural wonder.
The current name for that natural wonder is now open to debate.
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Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, South America, Venezuela, Ecotourism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Dec 23rd 2009 11:52AM
"No-one should refer to Angel Falls any more." Once again, Venezuela's semi-illiterate master tells his cowering subjects how to behave.
Doug Dec 23rd 2009 2:57PM
I'm certain the Venezuelan president said the quoted line in Spanish. I'd check the accuracy of the translation before calling him names.
John Dec 23rd 2009 10:17PM
I speak Spanish and i've heard Chavez speak. Trust me, he's a semi-illiterate thug that rose through the ranks and then got elected on platform based on envy. Once on top, he has now become a dictator.
Poor Venezuela, cry for the beloved country
Rupesh12 Dec 24th 2009 12:36AM
This gigantic fall that it is as many as 16 times higher than Niagara Falls and three times higher than the great Eifel Towers. The height of the falls is so great that before getting anywhere near the ground, the water is atomized by the strong winds and turned into mist. The mist can be felt a mile away.
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Diana Dec 25th 2009 2:25PM
I think what people call the falls is irrelevant. What is relevant is Dictator Chavez' edict " No one should refer to Angel Falls anymore"!!!!!!!!
Ryan Dec 25th 2009 4:36PM
Was your Christmas wish to not be a jingoistic puke, Diana?
Ooooh, sorry, looks like Santa failed to deliver.
You're what's wrong with the world. Redneck.
america1 Dec 25th 2009 2:17PM
If they do rename the falls I hope all Americans ban travel there
Dennis Dec 25th 2009 2:38PM
I like to name it "Chavez Falls"
Glenna Dec 25th 2009 9:12PM
It makes sense to take it back to its original name. Why have names given by those who were not really of that land. I like this idea.
wayne a Dec 25th 2009 4:07PM
chavez is an ASSHOLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tim H. Dec 25th 2009 5:14PM
Wayne is being too kind . He is a pyschotic monkey.
Katie Dec 25th 2009 7:34PM
why would they change the name after all these years it is just stupid. this chavez person needs to get over himself
Sierra Dec 25th 2009 4:36PM
This is no different than the white people changing Pohono to Bridalveil. Who are the foreigners (meaning outsiders to the area in question) to say what a local landmark should be called? Especially when it's something that's been around for eons.
As it says in the article...
"The Venezuelan President went on to say that the landmark, which is one of his country's biggest tourist attractions, had been seen by many indigenous people before Angel ever arrived on the scene."
I don't believe in his way of doing business, however, he did speak the truth here.
Antonio Balangue Dec 27th 2009 11:52AM
I've always thought that it had a Spanish name, "angel" in Spanish being the same word, but pronounced differently. A capital addition to what facts I carry in my brain.
Tom Dec 25th 2009 5:03PM
Who cares what Mr.self important calls the falls. Let him call it whatever he likes and keep the name of record in the Western world as Angel Falls. "Waterfall of the deepest place" well if that isn't the most descriptive name I've ever heard. If they only use his new anti-American name in Venezula maybe it will show him how really unimportant in the grand scheme of things he really is. Same thing with Bridal Veil, the native people are free to call it what ever they like and if the"white" people care to refer to it by a different name so be it. Being that the falls was only able to be viewed by aircraft at the time it was discovered by the "civilized" world its only natural that no one consulted with the native people as to what names existed for the falls. It sure seems that there are a lot of Native American names in common use in the US for our natural wonders (lakes,rivers,mountains,forests) to make blanket statements regarding the practices of "white" people to rename land formations.
Sierra Dec 25th 2009 9:07PM
But, it wasn't "only able to be viewed by aircraft at the time it was discovered by the "civilized" world." It just happens that's how it was discovered -- as far as we know.
If you think for a minute it could only be seen from an airplane, I'd like to know how the indigenous people saw it to give it a name.
I guess, if you feel that we should be able to call things whatever we want to call them, you'd be the first one to pat some guy on the back for calling your kid (who was named after you), Sherman *LOL* As they say, what's in a name?
Duke Dec 25th 2009 6:56PM
The Citgo station in my neighborhood has closed. People read that Citgo is owned by Hugo Chavez and stopped going there. Iran is building 4 oil platforms off the Venezuelan coast. Iran would love to get come missiles closer to the USA. So yes Hugo Chavez is to be watched very carfully, and taken seriously.
Linda Wilson Dec 25th 2009 7:03PM
They shouldn't rename Angel Falls. I went to high school with Jimmy Angels son, Roland, and he was very proud of the Falls, named after his father. I hope that the name Angel Falls remain.
James Dec 25th 2009 7:22PM
He can call the falls anything he wants. I shall call them Angel Falls. Idiot!
Sal Dec 25th 2009 7:39PM
As much as I think that the name should stay, simply because that is what history has called it...I also think he has every right to rename it if he wants. I am not sure how we would react if, say, Afghanistan named the White House something of their liking. A time would come, I think, where we would want control of what was named, and name it.
It's easy to say that they are self-centered and egotistical. But so are we. Its called Nationalism. We have EXTREME Nationalism here. We are very ethno-centric. There is nothing wrong with that. But it does come off to other people as being rude. Just remember, they are just like that in that aspect.
Whatever the name, it is what it is.