{{Short description|Tepui in Venezuela}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Auyán-tepui | image = Auyan Tepui 01.JPG | image_caption = Auyán-tepui seen at dusk from Campo Uruyen | elevation_m = 2450 | elevation_ref = <ref name=intro /><!-- otm shows 2500m --> | prominence_m = | prominence_ref = | range = | listing = | map = Venezuela | map_caption = Location in Venezuela | map_size = 250 | label_position = | location = Bolívar, Venezuela | coordinates = {{coord|5.90036|N|62.54156|W|type:mountain_region:VE_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref name=otm>{{cite opentopomap|Auyán-Tepuy|5.90036|-62.54156|2023-06-17}}</ref> | type = | age = | first_ascent = | easiest_route = | fetchwikidata=ALL }} '''Auyán-tepui''' ({{IPA|es|awˈʝan teˈpuj}}), also spelled '''Ayan''',<ref>Barnett, A., R. Shapley, P. Benjamin, E. Henry & M. McGarrell (2002). {{cite web|url= http://www.rebeccashapley.com/akodon/reprint_pdfs/02GuyanaPotaroPlateauBirds.pdf |title=Birds of the Potaro Plateau, with eight new species for Guyana. }} ''Cotinga'' '''18''': 19–36.</ref> is a tepui in Bolívar state, Venezuela.<ref name=intro>Huber, O. (1995). Geographical and physical features. In: P.E. Berry, B.K. Holst & K. Yatskievych (eds.) ''Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Volume 1. Introduction.'' Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. pp.&nbsp;1–61.</ref> It is the most visited and one of the largest (but not the highest) tepuis in the Guiana Highlands, with a summit area of {{convert|666.9|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} and an estimated slope area of {{convert|715|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=intro />

The unevenly heart-shaped summit plateau of Auyán-tepui is heavily inclined, rising from around {{convert|1600|m|ft|sigfig=2}} in the northwest to a maximum of {{convert|2450|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the southeast.<ref name=intro /> It is incised from the north by a vast valley, the Cañón del Diablo (Devil's Canyon), formed by the Churún River. The larger western portion of the plateau is partially forested, whereas the eastern part comprises mostly bare rock with only patchy vegetation cover.<ref name=intro /> The mountain hosts a number of extensive cave systems.<ref name=Piccini1995>{{cite journal|last=Piccini|first=Leonardo|url= https://www.academia.edu/16904443/Karst_in_siliceous_rock_karts_landforms_and_caves_in_the_Auy%C3%A1n_tepui_massif_Est_Bol%C3%ADvar_Venezuela_ |title=Karst in siliceous rocks: karst landforms and caves in the Auyán-tepui massif (Est. Bolivar, Venezuela)|journal=International Journal of Speleology|volume=24<!--(1–4)-->|pages=41–54}}</ref><ref>Piccini, L. & M. Mecchia (1 May 2009). Solution weathering rate and origin of karst landforms and caves in the quartzite of Auyan-tepui (Gran Sabana, Venezuela). ''Geomorphology'' '''106'''(1–2): 15–25. {{doi|10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.09.019}}</ref>

Auyán-tepui gives its name to the '''Auyán Massif''', which also includes the tiny peaks of Cerro El Sol and Cerro La Luna to the north and the satellite mountain of Uaipán-tepui to the south. The massif has a total summit area of roughly {{convert|670|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} and an estimated slope area of {{convert|795|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=intro /> It is situated entirely within the bounds of Canaima National Park.<ref name=NP>{{in lang|es}} Torres, I.N. & D.D. Martín (November 2007). {{cite web|url= https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-331-35.pdf |title=Informe Final de la Evaluación del Parque Nacional Canaima, Venezuela, como Sitio de Patrimonio Natural de la Humanidad. }} Mejorando Nuestra Herencia.</ref> Auyán-tepui means "House of the Gods" in the local Pemón language.<ref name=Angel2001 />

Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world, drops from a cleft near the summit. The falls are {{convert|979|m|ft|sp=us}} high, with an uninterrupted descent of {{convert|807|m|ft|sp=us}}<ref>{{in lang|es}} Brewer-Carías, C. (2010). [http://issuu.com/revistarioverde/docs/rioverdecascabelesdevenezuela Tras la huella: del Salto Angel]. ''Río Verde'' '''2''': 61–77.</ref> — a drop nineteen times higher than that of Niagara Falls.

Auyán-tepui achieved international fame in 1933 when Angel Falls was accidentally discovered by Jimmie Angel, a bush pilot searching for gold ore. Attempting to land on the heart-shaped mesa in 1937, Angel crashed his small Flamingo plane on top of Auyán-tepui and was forced to hike down the gradually sloping backside, a trip that took him and his crew 11 days to complete; he was immortalised when the waterfall was named after him.<ref name=Angel2001>Angel, K. (2001) [revised 2009, 2010]. {{cite web|url= http://www.jimmieangel.org/Website%20Documents/2001%20%20REVISED,%2015%20July%202010.pdf |title=The Truth about Jimmie Angel and Angel Falls. }} Alexander von Humboldt International Conference 2001, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California.</ref>

Around 25 species of amphibians and reptiles are known from the summit plateau of Auyán-tepui,<ref>Myers, C.W. & M.A. Donnelly (March 2008). The summit herpetofauna of Auyantepui, Venezuela: report from the Robert G. Goelet American Museum–Terramar Expedition. ''Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History'' '''308''': 1–147. {{doi|10.1206/308.1}}</ref><ref>Myers, C.W., G.R. Fuenmayor & R.C. Jadin (August 2009). New species of lizards from Auyantepui and La Escalera in the Venezuelan Guayana, with notes on "microteiid" hemipenes (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae). ''American Museum Novitates'', no. 3660: 1–31. {{doi|10.1206/657.1}}</ref> as well as numerous birds.<ref>Chapman, F.M. (7 December 1939). [http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/handle/2246/5154 The upper zonal birds of Mt. Auyan-tepui, Venezuela]. ''American Museum Novitates'', no. 1051: 1–15.</ref><ref>Gilliard, E.T. (7 May 1941). [http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/handle/2246/988 The birds of Mt. Auyan-tepui, Venezuela]. ''Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History'' '''77'''(9): 439–508.</ref><ref>Barrowclough, G.F., Miguel Lentino R. & P.R. Sweet (1997). {{cite web|url= https://archive.org/details/bulletinofbriti117118brit |title=New records of birds from Auyán-tepui, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela. }} ''Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club'' '''117'''(3): 194–198.</ref><ref>{{in lang|es}} Lentino, M., L. Pérez, G. Barrowclough & P. Sweet (1999) ['1998']. Notas sobre las aves de la cima del Auyantepuy. ''Acta Terramaris'' '''11''': 1–12.</ref> Like many tepuis, the mountain hosts a rich assemblage of flora.<ref>Gleason, H.A. & E.P. Killip (October 1938). The flora of Mount Auyan-tepui, Venezuela. ''Brittonia'' '''3'''(2): 141–204. {{doi|10.2307/2804811}}</ref><ref>{{in lang|es}} Lindorf, H. (June 2006). [http://www.scielo.org.ve/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0084-59062006000100010&lng=es&nrm=iso La expedición universitaria a la meseta Auyán-tepui, abril 1956]. ''Acta Botánica Venezuelica'' '''29'''(1): 177–188.</ref>

thumb|center|800px|Partly clouded view of Auyán-tepui and Angel Falls (centre) from Isla Raton camp, taken during the end of the dry season

==See also== *Gran Sabana * Distribution of ''Heliamphora''

==References== thumb|300px|Map of Auyán-tepui showing notable landmarks {{Reflist}} Angel's Four by David Nott. An account of the first ascent of Angel Falls

==Further reading== {{Refbegin|40em}} * {{in lang|es}} Brewer-Carías, C. (2010). [http://issuu.com/revistarioverde/docs/rioverdeelpezleon El origen de los tepuyes: los hijos de las estrellas]. ''Río Verde'' '''3''': 54–69. * De Marmels, J. (1983). The Odonata of the region of Mount Auyantepui and the Sierra de Lema, in Venezuelan Guyana. 3. Additions to the families Gomphidae, Aeshnidae and Corduliidae, with description of ''Progomphus racenisi'' spec. nov.. ''Odonatologica'' '''12'''(1): 1–13. * De Marmels, J. (1994). ''Sympetrum chaconi'' spec. nov. from Auyan-Tepui, Venezuela, with notes on a pantepuyan form of ''Tramea binotata'' (Rambur) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). ''Odonatologica'' '''23'''(4): 405–412. * {{in lang|es}} Delascio Chitty, F. (1997). Apuntes sobre la vegetación del Auyantepui. ''Acta Terramaris'' '''10''': 27–42. * Dennison, L.R. (1942). ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/Devil_Mountain.html?id=7hFmAAAAMAAJ Devil Mountain]''. Hastings House, New York. {{oclc|58939919}} * Dunsterville, G.C.K. (August 1964). Auyantepui, home of fifty million orchids. ''American Orchid Society Bulletin'' 1964: 678–689. * Dunsterville, G.C.K. (1965). Auyantepui. ''Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales'' '''26'''(109): 163–171. * Dunsterville, G.C.K. & E. Dunsterville (1982). Auyán-tepui: reminiscences of an orchid search. In: J. Arditti (ed.) ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/Orchid_Biology_Reviews_and_Perspectives.html?id=fExFAQAAIAAJ Orchid Biology: Reviews and Perspectives, II]''. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. pp.&nbsp;19–38. * Jaffe, K., J. Lattke & R. Perez-Hernández (January–June 1993). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130617070003/http://ecotropicos.saber.ula.ve/db/ecotropicos/Edocs/vol6_n1/articulo3.pdf Ants on the tepuies of the Guiana Shield: a zoogeographic study.] ''Ecotropicos'' '''6'''(1): 21–28. * {{in lang|es}} Huber, O. (1976). Observaciones climatológicas sobre la región del Auyán-tepui (Edo. Bolívar). ''Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales'' '''32'''(132–133): 509–525. * {{in lang|es}} La Cruz, L. (February–April 2010). [http://issuu.com/revistarioverde/docs/rioverdeparakawachoi Iván Calderon y su mundo vertical]. ''Río Verde'' '''1''': 98–115. * {{in lang|es}} Maguire, B. (1957). Resultados botánicos de la expedición de la Universidad Central de Venezuela a la región Auyantepui en la Guayana venezolana, abril de 1956. 1. Una nueva especie de la familia Cyperaceae. ''Acta Botánica Venezuelica'' '''2'''(6): 43–45. * Mecchia, M. & L. Piccini (1999). Hydrogeology and SiO<sub>2</sub> geochemistry of the Aonda Cave system (Auyantepui, Bolivar, Venezuela). ''Boletín Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología'' '''33''': 1–11. * Moldenke, H.N. (1957). Resultados botánicos de la expedición de la Universidad Central de Venezuela a la región Auyantepui en la Guayana venezolana, abril de 1956. 2. Three new species of the family Eriocaulaceae. ''Acta Botánica Venezuelica'' '''2'''(7): 47–50. * Myers, C.W. (1997). Preliminary remarks on the summit herpetofauna of Auyantepui, eastern Venezuela. ''Acta Terramaris'' '''10''': 1–8. * {{in lang|es}} Phelps, W.H. (1938). La expedición del American Museum of Natural History al Monte Auyantepui. ''Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales'' '''4'''(32): 251–265. * {{in lang|es}} Rácenis, J. (May–August 1968). Los odonatos de la región del Auyantepui y de la Sierra de Lema, en la Guayana Venezolana. 1. Superfamilia Agrionoidea. ''Memoria de la Sociedad de Ciencias Naturales La Salle'' '''28'''(80): 151–176. * {{in lang|es}} Rácenis, J. (1970). Los odonatos de la región del Auyantepui y de la Sierra de Lema, en la Guayana Venezolana. 2. Las familias Gomphidae, Aeshnidae y Corduliidae. ''Acta Biologica Venezuelica'' '''7'''(1): 23–39. * {{in lang|es}} Roze, J.A. (1958). Los reptiles del Auyantepui, Venezuela, basándose en las colecciones de las expediciones de Phelps-Tate, del American Museum of Natural History, 1937–1938, y de la Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1956. ''Acta Biologica Venezuelica'' '''2'''(22): 243–270. * {{in lang|es}} Señaris, J.C. (1995) ['1993']. Una nueva especie de ''Oreophrynella'' (Anura; Bufonidae) de la cima del Auyán-tepui, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela. ''Memoria de la Sociedad de Ciencias Naturales La Salle'' '''53'''(140): 177–183. * {{in lang|es}} Señaris, J.C. & J. Ayarzagüena (1994) ['1993']. Una nueva especie de ''Centrolenella'' (Anura: Centrolenidae) del Auyán-tepui, Edo. Bolívar, Venezuela. ''Memoria de la Sociedad de Ciencias Naturales La Salle'' '''53'''(139): 121–126. * {{in lang|es}} Steyermark, J.A. (1967). Flora del Auyán-tepui. ''Acta Botánica Venezuelica'' '''2'''(5–8): 5–370. * {{in lang|es}} Tate, G.H.H. (1938). Auyantepui: notas sobre la Expedición Phelps (Phelps Venezuelan Expedition). ''Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales'' '''5'''(36): 96–125. * Tate, G.H.H. (July 1938). Auyantepui: notes on the Phelps Venezuelan Expedition. ''Geographical Review'' '''28'''(3): 452–474. {{doi|10.2307/209741}} * Vareschi, V. (1958). Resultados botánicos de la expedición de la Universidad Central de Venezuela a la región Auyantepui en la Guayana venezolana, abril de 1956. 3. ''Hymenophyllopsis universitatis'', a new species endemic to Guayana and its relatives. ''Acta Biologica Venezuelica'' '''2'''(15): 151–162. <!--Texera, D. s.f. Crónica jocosa de la Expedición Universitaria al Auyantepui, abril 1956. Cardona Puig, Félix 1938. Región de la Montaña Auyantepui explorada en 1927, 1928, 1931, 1937. Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 4, no. 32 foldout map, 1500,000. (issued in conjunction with Phelps, 1938). --> {{Refend}}

{{Tepuis |Venezuela}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auyan-tepui}} Category:Tepuis of Venezuela Category:Mountains of Venezuela Category:Mountains of Bolívar (state) Category:Canaima National Park