In South America, there are two famous plateaus: the Brazilian and Guiana Plateau. You will find their description in the article.
Geographical position
The Brazilian plateau (highlands) is spread between two lowlands: the Amazonian in the north and La Plata, which occupies the western part of the mainland.
The eastern border of the Brazilian Plateau runs along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The highlands have a huge area and covers approximately five million square kilometers. Brazil is located on its territory, hence its name.
The Guiana Plateau on the map of the mainland occupies its northern part. It lies between the lowland of the same name, spread along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. In length, Guiana is significantly inferior to Brazilian. An area of about 2,000 square kilometers is occupied by the Guiana Plateau. The map shows that several countries are located on its territory. These are Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana, and part of Brazil.
Relief
The plateaus have a similar relief in their heterogeneity. It combines lowland plains and mountainous terrain. For example, the outskirts of the Guiana Plateau are represented by flat landscapes. When moving toward the center, the surface gradually rises, as if rising upwards in broad steps. In the central part of the plateau, the Pakaraima mountain range is located.
The Brazilian highlands in the north look like a plateau, gradually rising to the mountain range towards the east coast.
Mountains and their features
The mountain ranges of both plateaus are famous for the so-called tepui or table mountains. They got their name "canteens" for flat tops. If you look at the peaks of these mountains from above, you can see that they really resemble the vast surface of the table.
The flat view of the peaks was formed over the centuries under the influence of the sun and water, polished the horizontal layers of quartz and sandstone, of which they consist.
Tepui are famous for their numerous caves and mines, washed with water and having numerous horizontal and vertical passages.
The slopes of the mountains and rocks sometimes have bizarre shapes and original sites. You can see, for example, the correct form of natural baths. During rains they are filled with water and suitable for swimming.
In the foothills, there are often granite half-kilometer mountain peaks of regular round shape - “semi-oranges”.
On the plateau are solitary rocks of a bizarre shape, resembling either chess pieces, mushrooms, or fairy-tale castles.
The Parakaima mountain range and the "navel of the Earth"
The highest point that adorns the Guiana Plateau is the peak of Roraima, it belongs to the Serra Pakaraima mountain range. The ridge rises above sea level by 2723 meters. The surface of the mountain is a plateau of 34 km. It is at the junction of 3 states: Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. In the vicinity of Roraima are the sources of the Amazon and Essexibo rivers, and the Orinoco River also originates.
This is a very effective tepuya. The slopes of the mountain are covered with forests of dwarf trees, ferns, rare species of orchids, of which there are a great many, unique insectivorous plants, mosses and mocks. From a distance, the mountain has a blue-green hue, for which it received the nickname “Big blue-green mountain” among the natives.
The flat peak of Roraima is almost always shrouded in fog and a layer of whitish clouds. She looks mysterious and even mystical. Therefore, the plateau was chosen as the location for the film "The Lost World" based on the novel by Conan Doyle.
The Indians call the summit "the navel of the Earth" and believe that the goddess Queen, the progenitor of all mankind, lives on it.
Sierras of the Brazilian Plateau
The Brazilian Highlands are famous for the Sierras. This is the name for strongly dissected mountain ranges reaching a height of two kilometers and located along the Atlantic Ocean. Petuya Bandeira with a three-kilometer peak is the highest point of the highlands.
Deposits of high-grade ores have been discovered in the northern part of the Brazilian plateau. It is one of the richest ore deposits in the world.
Climate of the plateau
A distinctive feature of the climate of the plateaus is the seasonality in the distribution of precipitation.
For example, the winter period on the Guiana Plateau is characterized by increased humidity, which is not typical for these latitudes. The reason for this is the northeast wet trade wind.
Spring on the plateau is a continuous period of rains, and summer is characterized by drought.
The Brazilian plateau is located within the tropical and subequatorial zones, so it is very warm, even hot all year round. The distribution of precipitation on this plateau depends on its topography and distance from the ocean. So, in the central part of the highlands, the annual rainfall occurs in the summer months.
Rivers
The Guiana Plateau lies between the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. It is crossed by many fast mountain rivers, which are mainly fed by precipitation.
The rivers of Brazil and Guiana are characterized by a seasonal rhythm. During the rainy season, they become full-flowing, they become shallow during drought, turning into streams and lakes in some places. Also, the bed of each river abounds with rapids and waterfalls.
Angel
On the Guiana Plateau is the highest waterfall on the planet, bearing the romantic name Angel (Angel). It overthrows its waters from almost a kilometer high. The waterfall is fed by rains. In dry times, it looks like a thin stream of water. When precipitation falls on the Guiana Plateau, Angel turns into a powerful water stream. The rate of fall of its water is so great that reaching the surface of the earth, water becomes dust. Water dust forms a haze that envelops the waterfall and makes it visible for several kilometers.
Orinoco - a heavenly place
The most famous river that feeds the Guiana Plateau is named Orinoco. The great Christopher Columbus compared her to paradise.
The Orinoco River begins in the foothills of Venezuela, near the Brazilian border. These are very secluded, quiet, little-studied places. Until now, there are several few Indian tribes living in voluntary isolation from the outside world.
In the rainy season, the riverbed widens and becomes deeper. In the dry period, the smallest tributaries dry out, turning into a series of small lakes.
An interesting attraction of the reservoir is its natural channel - the Casikyare River, which connects the Amazon with Orinoco.
In the waters of Orinoco, Orinoc crocodiles are found, the rarest representatives of the species of crocodiles.
lost World
Where the Guiana Plateau is located, in Venezuela, there is a huge reserve in its territory - the Canaima National Park. He is over two million years old. This is the most ancient corner on planet Earth.
The pride of the park is high-rise tepui and fantastic beauty of landscapes.
The plateau-like peaks of the park’s mountains have naturally occurring funnels of different diameters. The largest of them reach three hundred meters. Most of the funnels are filled with clear water and look like crystal clear lake. At the bottom of the lakes there are unique plants that could not be found in any other place on the planet.
The most beautiful of the mountains of the park is Autana. Its feature is a cave that penetrates the mountain through.
Especially popular among researchers and tourists is the Abismo Gui Colleague Cave, the depth of which reaches 670 meters. During its study on the arches, ancient cave paintings were discovered depicting nowadays non-existent animals and unknown creatures.
Unique not only the mountains of the park, but also its nature. In these places there are many very rare representatives of the animal and plant world. For example, an excursion trail to Angel Falls runs through an island of orchids, striking with a variety of flowers and plant shapes.
In the forests of the park live various species of monkeys, jaguars, huge anteaters. Forests and foothills are filled with feral homon.
Canaima Park is a favorite destination for tourists. Here you can travel not only by land, water, but also allow yourself air travel by plane. After all, only from a height you can see all the beauties of this place.
The famous Guiana Plateau is literally shrouded in a halo of secrets and mysteries, myths and legends are composed about it, partially confirmed by reports of scientific expeditions.