TOURISM IN VENEZUELA PARK EL AVILA OR WARAIRAREPANO

It was called from the year 1778 until May 7, 2011 as El Ávila National Park or Parque Del Norte and then from May 7, 2010, it is known as Waraira-repano, it is located in the Cadena del Litoral within the Mountain range of the Coast, in the center-north of Venezuela. It extends from Caracas (Capital District), and all the north of the Miranda state and south of the Vargas state.3 4 In 1958 it is declared a national park. This mountainous formation is considered an emblematic and vegetal lung of the city and within it different activities can be carried out as it is one of the main attractions of the capital of Venezuela in heights that vary from 120 to more than 2765 meters, in Naiguatá Peak

The park takes its name, both the traditional "El Ávila National Park", from the hill that dominates the city of Caracas, which was known by the original inhabitants of the valley of Caracas, of Carib ethnicity, as Guaraira Repano, which means "Sierra Big". Others claim that the correct word was wariarepano which means place of the tapirs, due to the large number of mammals of this species that populated the mountains. The first time that the name "Ávila" appears as such is in 1778, as recorded in the Acts of the Cabildo de Caracas. Before that date, the mountain was known as "the Sierra del Norte", "the Mountain to the Sea", or "the other side of the hill". The name of Ávila is due to Juan Antonio Ávila, who owned some land in the mountainous area. When he died in 1795, his sons inherited their land and everyone in Caracas already knew it as the Sierra de los Ávila or Cerro de Ávila. Hence the true origin of the name of the hill. The Gabriel de Ávila, repeated again and again by several historians, has no historical basis, nor evidence of any kind. It is also estimated that this name will be strengthened, since Caracas is located in a valley and this mountain is comparable to a wall, the name "Ávila" alludes to the Spanish city of Avila, known for its medieval walls.

The hill was known by the ancient inhabitants of the valley of present-day Caracas, ethnic Caribbean, called "Warairarepano", which supposedly means something like: "the wave that came from afar" or "the sea made land". According to indigenous mythology, in ancient times there was no mountain. Everything was flat, you could see to the sea. But one day the tribes offended the great Goddess of the sea and it wanted to kill all the people. Then a great wave arose, the highest one that had been seen and all the people knelt or implored the goddess' heartfelt forgiveness and just when the wave was about to descend on them, it became the great mountain that exists today. The Goddess had taken pity and had forgiven the tribe.

However, after the founding of the city of Caracas in 1567, the Alférez Mayor de Campo Gabriel de Ávila, originally from the Spanish town of Trujillo (Cáceres), is granted an encomienda, climbs the hill and establishes his farm there 1575 for which the hill would receive the name of Ávila in this character. It is also estimated that this name will take force, since Caracas is located in a valley and this mountain is comparable to a wall, the name "Ávila" alludes to the Spanish city of Avila, known for its medieval walls.

It is located in the central stretch of the Cordillera de la Costa. Limited by Catia La Mar and part of west of carcas, and by Chuspa and Barlovento to the east. It occupies an area of 85,192 hectares. Its lowest point is 120 meters high, while the highest point (Naiguatá Peak) is 2,765 meters high.

The climate of the park varies according to the area, the height where one is and according to the month. The average annual temperature in the Valley of Caracas is 21º C, higher in the Cerro el Ávila the average is 13º C and the coldest are in the Naiguatá peak (2,765 m.s.d.), with an annual average of 10º C. The normal extremes of temperature range from 4º C to 29º C but in recent times temperatures of 1.5 or 0º C have been recorded in the higher parts, it is believed that this derives from atmospheric changes that occur in the planet because of pollution. Although the variation of the climate is great according to the zone where one is, during the year the temperature of each part does not suffer great variations, but if between the existing ones in the day and the night which is significant and it is necessary to be prepared to face . The wind currents that have more activity in the park are the Northwest Alisios which are active throughout the year prevailing in the months of January, February, June, July August and December. In this last month they begin to become normal on clear days, this atmospheric condition of the park lasts until February and gives the opportunity, to the inhabitants of its surroundings, to be able to appreciate the highest peaks with an excellent sharpness.

The mountain hides an unsuspected fauna for the visitors, it is a natural sanctuary that lodges great amount of species, especially in the south slope by the abruptness of its slopes.

If you love birdwatching, Ávila is the natural home of some such as the güitío, the dripped tico-tico, the pechiescamado ponchito, the Caracas tapaculo, the beautiful granicera, the white-winged flycatcher, the turpial, the Venezuelan slender flycatcher and the tanager cheeks rufas, the bluethroat hummingbird together to approximately 36 more species of hummingbirds and more. We can also find the paují cúpte de piedra, the dark empty bird and the black and white eagle.

In the mountain we find mammals such as the matacán deer, the araguato monkey, the cunaguaro, the wild cat, the three-toed sloth, the cachicamo, the porcupine, the anteater, the fox, the squirrel, the weasel, the limpet and even the tapir or tapir among others.

Among the most common reptiles are snakes like the rattlesnake, the mapnare, the butterfly tigra and several species of corals, the hunter and the parrot and among the invertebrates are freshwater crabs, scorpions and hundreds of species of insects and butterflies.

The mountain hides an unsuspected fauna for the visitors, it is a natural sanctuary that lodges great amount of species, especially in the south slope by the abruptness of its slopes.

The flora of the Waraira Repano National Park varies according to the height of the sea level, the heights in the park vary from 0 meter to the maximum height of 2765 meters. Thanks to these heights of varied measurements can be found various types of vegetation. The Waraira Repano has two types of slopes, a north which is located from the Caribbean Sea, and the southern slope located from Caracas.

Synthesized on the southern slope, there are four vegetation, which are:

• Sheets: Present in the lower areas of the park, approximately from 1,000 to 1,600 meters, the savannas cover between 30 and 50% of the southern slope. The most common plant species are the Toporón, the Micay, the Gamelote, the Capinmelao, the Mantequero, the Mameicillo, the Hypericon, the Yellow Tara, the Quiripiti and the Hayuelo.

A hypothesis referring to the cause that originates so much savannah or bush type vegetation, is due to the burning and indiscriminate felling carried out by the settlers before the Waraira Repano was decreed National Park in the year of 1,958.

• Tropófilo Forest: Following the savanna vegetation, the trophile forest, also called summer or deciduous, continues. The trees present in this area during the summer or drought, lose the foliage. This type of forest is approximately between 1,200 and 1,600 meters. The most common plant species are: the Araguaney, the Jabillo, the Copey, the Naked Indian, the Pardillo and the Bucare.

• Cloudy Forest: This type of vegetation occurs in some areas approximately from 1,600 to 2.00 meters above sea level. The origin of this vegetation is due to the constant presence of fog, product of the cloud that lodges in the high parts of the mountain. It is a humid area, the trees are tall and their leaves are always green. The most common plant species are: various types of Orchids, Ferns, Rubiaceae, Cesneriaceae, Peperonia, Araceae, Palms, the Iron Guava, the Almond, the Matapalo, the Quesillo, the Copey and the Santa María.

• Secondary Vegetation: This type of vegetation is made up of species that do not belong to the area, they are atypical species. That is to say, they were planted by the human being, they are reforestations. Secondary vegetation can be observed in the zone of Zamurera and Papelón, where they planted exotic species, such as the Pines of Australia, the Eucalyptus and the Grevileas. Some specialists recommend that autochthonous species be used for forthcoming reforestation, and in this way maintain the park without secondary changes due to the entry of new plant species.

• Xerophytic Forest: This type of vegetation is present on the northern slope, in the areas closest to the Caribbean Sea, between 0 meters to 500 meters above sea level. The vegetation has characteristics of high temperature areas and where water is scarce, the most common plant species are: different species of Cactus, the Carmacate, the Black Cují, the Tiamo, the Olivito, the Dividivi, the Oak, the Naked Indian , the Cardón, the Oak, the Guamacho, the Tuna and the Cariaquito.

Climb by jeep from Cotiza or on the cable car (wagons) to Galipán to enjoy a delicious ham sandwich, travel by cable car to appreciate the attractive view of the city, walk the mountain on foot, spend a night in an inn or ice skating They are one of the many options that this mountain offers you.

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