The Guiana Shield is one of the oldest geological formations on the planet, covering part of the states of Bolívar, Amazonas and Delta Amacuro. It stretches across roughly 300,000 square kilometres of tepuis, forest and powerful rivers holding a diversity of species, many of them found nowhere else. The formation is also known as the Guayana Massif.
Origin and geological formation
Being one of the oldest formations on Earth, it contains the oldest rock in Venezuela. It is made up mainly of igneous rock such as granite and quartz, and metamorphic rock such as schist and gneiss. In some sectors the rock is covered by sediments holding significant mineral deposits, among them the iron and bauxite that are mined intensively.
The shield formed more than two billion years ago and its landscape is dominated by the tepuis, enormous sandstone plateaus with vertical walls and flat tops. «Tepui» means «mountain» in the Pemón language. These structures are relics of erosion and they carry the geological history of a prehistoric Earth.
Location and extent
The shield runs from the Orinoco river —to the north and west— to the borders with Brazil and Guyana, south across the rainforest. Its extent takes in several national parks, including the famous Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. That is also where the highest waterfall in the world stands: Angel Falls, with a 979-metre drop.
Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield
The region is a biodiversity sanctuary with endemic plant and animal species. Its biological diversity is of incalculable scientific and natural value. It holds the legendary tepuis, powerful rivers and a green weave of unmatched flora threaded with fauna that evokes prehistory. Savannah and woodland dominate the plateaus, while tropical forest and mangrove develop below.
Endemic flora
Plant diversity here is outstanding, and it stands out above all for the number of endemic species that evolved in the unique environments of the tepuis. Among them are carnivorous plants and various orchids and bromeliads found nowhere else in the world. The forests and savannahs also hold a wide range of tree species adapted to different climates and soils.
Wildlife
The fauna is as singular as the flora. The area holds exclusive species such as the pebble toad and the giant anteater, along with a notable number of endemic birds, including the emblematic oilbird. The tepuis and surrounding forests are also home to big cats —jaguar and puma— and shelter a variety of mammals and reptiles that draws scientists and naturalists from around the world.
Indigenous peoples and ancestral culture
The Guiana Shield is a territory deeply bound to the presence and heritage of its indigenous peoples, who have kept their traditions and ways of life across the centuries.
Peoples and communities
Several indigenous groups —Pemón, Kariña and Ye’kuana— live in the Guiana Shield. These communities have developed a symbiotic relationship with their surroundings, with an economy based on hunting, fishing, gathering and conuco farming, preserving both their territories and their culture. Their traditional knowledge of the flora and fauna is of incalculable value, both for conservation and for science.
Traditions and culture
Their traditions show in their worldview, rituals, art and music, all intrinsically connected to nature. Their myths and legends, many of them turning on the tepuis and on natural phenomena, reflect a deep respect for the land that sustains them. Festivities such as the Arekuna, which marks the start of the agricultural year, and the Uru ceremony, celebrating the maize harvest, show how that ancestral culture remains alive and in step with its surroundings.
Adventure and travel in the shield
The Guiana Shield has become a significant destination for travel and adventure, offering experiences in surroundings of striking natural beauty and diversity.
Expeditions to the tepuis
Expeditions to the tepuis are one of the main draws of the Guiana Shield. These monumental plateaus give travellers the rare chance to explore lost worlds where time seems to have stopped. Mount Roraima, for instance, is not only the most famous for its flat summit and vertical walls, but also the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World.
Routes and exploration
The trekking routes here are among the most spectacular and demanding in the world. Crossing dense forest and clear rivers, the paths lead to extraordinary landscapes and let visitors sink into unspoilt nature. From gentler trails to crossings that demand real physical and technical preparation, there are options for every kind of explorer — always with respect for the region’s delicate ecological balance.
The landscapes of the Guiana Shield
This is a region that dazzles with landscapes and geological formations that testify to the history of the Earth. Mount Roraima and Angel Falls, both within Canaima National Park, are two of the best known — sacred places for the indigenous peoples and a magnet for scientists and explorers from around the world.
Canaima National Park
The park holds one of the highest mountains in Venezuela, Mount Roraima, along with the highest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls.
- Getting there: the different points of interest inside the park are reached by road vehicle or by boat.
- Flora and fauna: beyond its mountains, rivers and waterfalls, the park holds remarkable biodiversity.
Mount Roraima
An emblematic tepui that defies the sky. With its flat summit and vertical walls, this sacred mountain holds a natural beauty that captivates anyone who ventures onto it.
- Getting there: in Santa Elena de Uairén you will find several agencies offering guided treks to Roraima.
- Flora and fauna: orchids, bromeliads and tree ferns, along with birds and animals such as the endemic pebble toad.
Angel Falls
The highest waterfall in the world and the jewel of Canaima National Park. With a drop of 979 metres, its water comes off the summit of the Auyantepui and makes a spectacle without equal.
- Getting there: you head to the port and board a curiara, the traditional indigenous canoe, which takes you along the Carrao river to the Churún.
Where this sits in the country
The Guiana Shield is one of the three mountain systems of Venezuela, along with the Cordillera de la Costa and the Venezuelan Andes. The overview of all three is in mountains of Venezuela.