Cerro Sarisariñama

Cerro Sarisariñama is a remarkable tepui located in Venezuela. A tepui is a mountain characterized by a flat top. This specific mountain sits within the Jaua-Sarisariñama National Park. It is located in the far southwest of Bolívar State. The site is positioned near the border with Brazil. It is one of the most remote areas in the country. The nearest road is 35 miles away to the northeast.

The geology of the mountain is quite ancient. Sarisariñama is composed of quartzite from the Roraima formation. This formation belongs to the Paleoproterozoan era. The mountain features a summit area of 10 square kilometers. Its slope area covers 15 square kilometers. Unlike many other tepuis, the top of Sarisariñama is fully covered by a forest. This creates an isolated ecosystem on the plateau. This isolation allows for many endemic species to thrive. Endemic species are plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.

The most distinctive features of this tepui are its sinkholes. A sinkhole is a large hole in the ground. There are four known sinkholes on Cerro Sarisariñama. Two of these are named Sima Humboldt and Sima Martel. These two are visually unusual and very large. They are well known for having isolated forest ecosystems at their bottoms. Sima Humboldt is the largest of these holes. It can be up to 350 meters wide and 350 meters deep.

Reports of these sinkholes first circulated in 1954. This happened after pilots began flying over the tepui. The mountain became a major destination for exploration after 1961. This change occurred after a pilot named Harry Gibson noticed the enormous sinkholes. Scientists worked hard to reach this remote location. In 1974, researchers finally reached the summit of the mountain. They used a helicopter to airlift thirty researchers to the top.

Detailed scientific study of the mountain followed these early trips. Initial investigations focused on both of the major sinkholes. Some researchers even performed a descent to the bottom of Sima Humboldt. In 1976, a joint expedition from Venezuela and Poland arrived. They conducted a thorough speleological investigation of the area. Speleology is the scientific study of caves. During this expedition, they discovered a third sinkhole. This new sinkhole is named Sima de la Lluvia.

The discovery of Sima de la Lluvia was very important. It helped scientists explore the processes of erosion on tepuis. Erosion is the process where earth is worn away by natural forces. For about two decades, one sinkhole was a world record holder. It was the longest known quartzite cave in the world. That cave measured 1.35 kilometers in length. Another mountain, Mount Roraima, also has a very long quartzite cave. That cave measures 1.1 kilometers in length.

The name of the mountain has a deep cultural history. It comes from the tales of the local Ye'kuana people. They spoke of an evil spirit living in the mountain caves. This spirit was said to devour human flesh. The name comes from the sound "Sari... sari..." made by the spirit. Today, the mountain is a place of strict protection. Access is currently restricted to scientific researchers only. This helps preserve the unique life found on the plateau and in the sinkholes.