Cuquenan Falls
Encyclopedia
Cuquenan Falls is the second tallest major waterfall in Venezuela after Angel Falls. It is also the second tallest free-leaping waterfall in the world. Overall, it is usually cited as the 11th highest river in the world. The falls drop in a single leap around 2000 feet (670 m) and the final portion of the falls trickle down towards the base of the Kukenan Tepui
.
The Kukenan Tepui is located near Mount Roraima, which also serves as the geographical marker of the border between Brazil
, Venezuela
, and Guyana
. Mount Roraima also hosts its own waterfall, usually referred to as Roraima Falls, which leaps off the tepui in four tiered leaps. The height is estimated at approximately 2000-feet (670-meters).
There has been some controversy over the years regarding the overall ranking of Cuquenan Falls among the world's tallest waterfalls. It has been listed anywhere from 2nd to 20th in various publications and internet sites. Such discrepancies probably arise from the fact that most official measurements of the falls take into consideration only the free leaping portion, omitting the bottom part that cascade along the tepui. Some published listings incorporate the free falling measurements only when arguing that its height is not enough for the top 10 tallest waterfalls.
Kukenan Tepui
Kukenan is a tepui in Guayana Region, Venezuela. It is 2,680m high and about 3 km long. The 674m high Kukenan Falls is located at the south end of the tepui....
.
The Kukenan Tepui is located near Mount Roraima, which also serves as the geographical marker of the border between Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. Mount Roraima also hosts its own waterfall, usually referred to as Roraima Falls, which leaps off the tepui in four tiered leaps. The height is estimated at approximately 2000-feet (670-meters).
There has been some controversy over the years regarding the overall ranking of Cuquenan Falls among the world's tallest waterfalls. It has been listed anywhere from 2nd to 20th in various publications and internet sites. Such discrepancies probably arise from the fact that most official measurements of the falls take into consideration only the free leaping portion, omitting the bottom part that cascade along the tepui. Some published listings incorporate the free falling measurements only when arguing that its height is not enough for the top 10 tallest waterfalls.