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Leopold Lake - The mysterious Lake Leopold in the heart of the world ...
A member of the Hiking Center Caracas narrates in first person, his adventure in this ancient site located in the Venezuelan Amazon, discovered 50 years ago by an expedition sponsored by King Leopold of Belgium. Seated at a campfire on the banks of the majestic Orinoco, for the first time I hear the taciturn Charles Piaroa Indian trail guide and guide, a magical name "Lake Leopold. Do not add much, but that was enough for me to say: "It will be my next trip. We traveled to the Amazon.
The logistics were sailing in a boat and then walk right into the intricate Amazon. You would walk part of the Biosphere Reserve, especially water resources and indigenous ancestral seat.
At 9:00 am on Friday embarked on Puerto Samariapo. There were five and we had to look upstream to the carrier.
The boat was small, but fast. Well supplied with food, fuel, furnishings and everything you need, we left at 10:45. The sun shone strongly.
Water maze
The first stop was in kettles. Escondida on one side of the wide river, a waterfall we attracted by promises of freshness.
While Charles was preparing lunch, we swam in the cold river-bed stone slabs. Then we continued sailing until they reached the first camp: Atubi, riverside Autana.
The next day at 9:00 am we were sailing in search of Martin and subsequently achieving Manteco pipe: a water maze in a forest.
We went in silence broken only by gestures to point to something, the click of cameras, the hum of the engine, the splash of a fish. The mirror of water breaks in concentric circles when a leaf falls. The atmosphere surrounded by impenetrable walls plant sometimes forms a roof, the narrowness of the waterway only allows the passage.
The trees stretch their limbs, they took turns with the machete and hatchet from the deck of the boat to spend the vessel. The typically rainy climate of the Amazon jungle, made us perspire profusely.
We traveled several hours. Sometimes we fell into a lake wide and then go back to narrow the flow of water. At last we left. Still sail much longer until the stream of Merey, where only the boat arrives. Rapid starting from here until much further up the river, impeding navigation.
We were very far from the last hut we saw. Nothing suggests the presence of man. Then began the trek through the jungle. Heavy luggage stayed on the boat, out of sight. We took only the essentials. While colleagues gathered their belongings, we equip ourselves with repellent, gloves, sticks and a thin gauze to protect the face of the "bugs".
The path-only visible to the guide that follows the river roars in rapids (there are many and strong) or slips gently into calm waters.
A beautiful red flower (heliconia) alone, caught my attention, highlighted in the infinite shades of green surrounding it.
Sometimes we wound swamps where our boots sank or cross creeks that feed the great river. The animals are scarce. An occasional butterfly, a slight ringing in the top of a tree toad miners seem springs.
The trail leaves the woods and jumped over large rocks on the riverbank. That was when we reached the base of the mountain where he hides Leopold, the Caño Fox, spent the night there.
While they accommodated the stuff and cooked, we went down to the river to the waterfall. Scaled and very wide, the stone floor was slippery. We jumped from rock to rock and sat back to water jets that massaged us and revitalized.
That night our room had a roof, a full moon and the stars, the sound of the river was the lullaby. The Piaroas know well, when no omens of rain.
Panorama prodigious
The next day, after breakfast and cautiously cross the river. " Concentrated our attention on the single goal of our adventure: the lake.
The vegetation overwhelmed and haunts.
Ferns are intertwined with palms, epiphytes with decorative orchidaceas family. Also bromeliads of different species, thanks to a combination of its tall and upright leaves facilitate entry and retention of rainwater that has sometimes bailed out thirsty visitors.
We walked and walked: forest, water, forest. Amounting flat stretches slowly. We reached the top of a cliff there and deliberately, some rocks are main stage for the spectacle presented to us: the view of the lake is spectacular. The lake is an emerald jewel, squeezed in a velvet box. Iridescent sheen. From the top of the gorge looked ecstatic that perfection.
It is the only lake basin Cuao except gaps elongated or horseshoe-shaped forming several loops. It was discovered during an expedition sponsored by King Leopold of Belgium for over 50 years. Approximately 400 yards long, 270 wide and 84 deep in the middle. To have a palm with his name: the Leopoldine piassava, chiquichiqui, 1952. Its waters are considered dead, for not large fish. It feeds and runs underground, in the light not seen any tributary.
The desire to touch the water quickly led us down the last stretch. The descent is steep up to the "hotel" stone. It is the only place where we could set up camp and safely guarded. A long narrow passage, behind high walls of rock, whose projections form a shallow cave. Clean vegetation.
There are beams of logs used to hang the hammocks, Carlos placed them on a previous trip. A yellow cloud of bees covered my dark shirt and my backpack, where it formed dense fragrant clammy with sweat.
Noise bothers her, but not damaged.
We left our bags and following difficult and Carlos got off the steep ravine to the lake shore. It is a very narrow strip of pink sand. The majesty of the place overwhelms and bewilders me.
Tea-colored warm waters, guarded by black rocks which sentinels emerge and form a circle in enmoldado not reddish sands of the finest kind.
Resounds the echo of the clamor that form guacharacas atop the cliffs that surround it.
Cautiously we enter the water, is not where we stand and told us that the floor level suddenly drops in depth. Water transmits serenity.
But suddenly the spell was broken, it seemed that the lake did not want to interrupt your quiet. Unusually the weather changed, the merciless sun that fell was turned into the dark sky. The waters are churning fiercely. The wind whistled and blew hard. The leaves of the trees which were moving ghosts. A band of yellow butterflies flew in fear. We moved the wet clothes sitting in the hammocks look at the wild and imposing beauty of the rain, watched Piaroas serious friends. Gone are the bees. A hot coffee brought us to reality. The storm .
Lake Leopold arises from relafen written by Roger Bodart of the expedition of King Leopold III of Belgium to the Upper Orinoco in 1952. The name of the Rapids above the pipe Elata WUJA Aje acronym refers to the name of this expedition. One version of the book published by King Leopold in 1956 on the issue ELAT includes a map of Professor Jose Maria Cruxent which describes a route to Lake Leopold. Lake Leopold was often photographed from the air and there is a film made by Captain Harry Gibson indicating a water hole in the middle of the lake. Thus arose the legend of the monster of Lake Leopold.
Amazon Adventure and Over
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