To the southeast of Venezuela stands one of the most amazing and, at the same time, strange treasures that our planet has. Mount Roraima is the most mysterious geographical formation on the entire Earth, as it hides many secrets that have not yet been revealed because reaching it is a mission of life or death. Geologists believe that, due to its peculiar shape, this mountain is the oldest formation born on our planet and that, therefore, it could hide keys of great importance to understanding the origin of life and its evolution.
A mountain without a peak
When hearing the word ‘mountain’, most of the time, if not all, we think of a geological formation with a pointed structure. A mountain that has a peak-shaped termination in the heights and that widens the closer it gets to ground level. However, this is precisely where the difference of Mount Roraima lies, because it has nothing of a pointed figure.
The strange mountain that has also been called Tepuy Roraima, is located southeast of the Canaima National Park in Venezuela and is part of the Pakaraima mountain range. It is a mountain with a very unusual morphology that seems to have been carved and cut over the eons. Where a pointed structure should be erected, there is a flat peak with an area of more than 30 square kilometers.
It is for this reason that it has intrigued historians, geologists and biologists for centuries who cannot explain how Mount Roraima was formed, since no other similar one has been found in the entire world. Its highest surface is so strange that more than the top of a mountain, it could be considered an island or an oasis in the heights. From this oasis fall waterfalls, cliffs and other geographical formations as unusual as its host mountain.
The oldest biological laboratory
Being considered an oasis in the heights can only mean one thing; It is a biological laboratory where endemic species live that cannot be seen anywhere else on the globe. In fact, biologists believe that endemic species have a home so different from the entire planet that there is not even a record of them, since there are spaces in this oasis in the heights that have not yet been explored.
If we add to this that geologists believe that it may be the oldest rock formation on the planet, the secrets hidden in it increase its intrigue even more. But the greatest difficulty in revealing its secrets is that there is no direct path, you can only reach it through other mountain formations. For this reason, in situ research has been greatly complicated and large areas remain unexplored.
Another way to reach this mysterious place is via helicopter, however, the danger is such that a special permit is required from the local authorities, since many have lost their lives along the way.
Until there is a safe way to explore the most remote regions of Mount Roraima, we will not be able to find out the creatures and plant species that live there, and that could give us a clue to understanding the evolution of life on Earth. Meanwhile, we can only admire the strange geological formation from the vision of those explorers who dare to brave its dangers.