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El Guácharo , Venezuela

Claudio Svaggio
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The Cueva del Guácharo National Park covers an area of 45,500ha. The main feature of the park is the cave system itself, which, with a length of over 10.5 km, is the largest in the country. It was discovered along with its unique inhabitant, the guácharo (oilbird) by the scientist and explorer Alexander Humboldt in 1799. A unique, frugiverous (fruit-eating) species, the oilbird leaves the cave at dusk to search for food, using echolocation to maneuver in the dark. The colony numbers around 18,000 and occupies the first chamber of the cave together with mice, crickets and crabs. Visitors are guided by lanterns down a concrete path that meanders alongside a stream and amongst vast piles of decomposing palm-seeds dropped by the guácharos. Spindly palm-seedlings sprout from these mounds, but soon die, starved of light. Ornate stalactites and stalagmites and other intriguing geological formations decorate the entire subterranean network, many of which resemble and are named after plants, animals and famous landmarks. Visitors have access to the first sector of the cave; deeper exploration is possible but only with specialized equipment and permission from the park's authorities. Access varies according to the time of year, as the caves are liable to flood during the rainy season in August and September. Source: www.think-venezuela.net