Pacaraima Mountains facts for kids

The Pacaraima Mountains, also called the Pakaraima Mountains, are a long chain of mountains. You can find them mostly in southwestern Guyana, but they also stretch into northern Brazil and eastern Venezuela.

Exploring the Pacaraima Mountains

Mount Roraima, a flat-topped mountain in the Pacaraima range.

These mountains stretch for over 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) from west to east. The highest point is Mount Roraima, which stands 2,810 meters (9,219 feet) tall. Mount Roraima is a special kind of mountain called a tepui. Tepuis are like giant tables with very steep cliffs, sometimes 300 meters (984 feet) high.

The Pacaraima Mountains are part of a larger area called the Guayana Shield. They also form a natural border. To the north, they separate the Orinoco Valley from the Amazon Basin to the south. They also mark the border between Brazil and southeastern Venezuela, and between Brazil and west-central Guyana.

How the Mountains Were Formed

The Pacaraima Mountains are made of sandstone rock. This rock was once flat layers at the bottom of an ancient sea. Over a very long time, these layers were lifted up. Then, wind and water slowly wore away the sandstone. This erosion created the dramatic, steep cliffs and flat-topped mountains you see today. These unique flat-topped mountains are called tepuis.

Some famous tepuis in this range include Mount Roraima, Mount Ayanganna, and Mount Wokomung.

Kaieteur Falls, a beautiful waterfall in the Pacaraima Mountains.

Many rivers start in these mountains. As they flow down, they create amazing waterfalls. Two famous examples are the Kaieteur Falls in Guyana and Angel Falls in Venezuela. The Mazaruni River and Ireng River also begin in the Pacaraima Mountains.

Plants and Animals of the Pacaraimas

Most of the Pacaraima Mountains are covered in forests. You can also find open grasslands, called savannas, especially near Mount Roraima and on the Brazilian side. These savannas have grasses and some trees like the Curatella americana. Sometimes, these areas can catch fire, either from people clearing land or during dry seasons.

It's hard to explore the steep slopes of these mountains. But because these flat-topped mountains are so isolated, they have many unique plants that grow nowhere else. Scientists believe there are many more plant species waiting to be discovered here. The Rapateaceae family is a common group of flowering plants found on the tepui plateaus.

Protecting the Environment

The forests and unique plants of the Pacaraimas face threats from logging (cutting down trees) and mining.

To help protect this special area, part of the range in Brazil is a protected area. It's called the Monte Roraima National Park and covers a huge area of 116,748 hectares (about 288,500 acres).

People of the Pacaraima Mountains

The Pacaraima Mountains are the traditional home of the Patamona and Macushi people.

The Macushi village of Tipuru is thought to be the oldest village in the South Pacaraima Mountains. It has the oldest church and school in that area.

For the local people, the mountains and other landforms are very important. They are part of their oral histories and culture. The Macushi people have stories about how the mountains were created. They believe that mythical creator brothers cut down a "tree of life" called Wayaka. These brothers then turned people, animals, and other things into rock formations. This gives the landforms special meanings in their myths.

See also

In Spanish: Sierra de Pacaraima para niños

• Guayana Highlands topics
• Mountain ranges of Guyana
• Geography of Guyana