Rising from the mists of the jungle, Wild Choronicles joins researchers to scale a giant tepui in Guyana, South America. Flat-topped mountains with sheer sides rising over 8000 feet into the clouds, tepuis are like prehistoric islands in the sky, populated by plants and animals found nowhere else. Don't look down as this story is a real cliff hanger.

  • Wild Choronicles joins researchers to scale a giant tepui in Guyana, South America. Roraima, soaring more than 8,000 feet into the clouds, is like a prehistoric island in the sky, populated by plants and animals found nowhere else. Don't look down—this story is a real cliffhanger.

    1. How old is the tepui known as Mount Roraima?

      Show Answer

      Roraima is more than 1.8 billion years old.

    2. What is Gondwanaland?

      Show Answer

      Gondwanaland was a supercontinent, including parts of the present-day continents of North America, South America, Africa, and Antarctica. Tepuis are remnants of Gondwanaland.

    3. The scientists camp in "hanging tents." How are the tents secured to the steep sides of the tepui?

      Show Answer

      A single steel pin clamps each tent in place.

    4. What type of bird does Jose Rivas see on his way up Roraima?

      Show Answer

      Jose sees a green parakeet.

    5. What insects does Jose examine in the "hanging garden"?

      Show Answer

      Jose discovers a green ladybug, a wriggling worm, a scorpion (with tiny baby scorpions attached to her), and a spider.

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  • Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry
    cliff Noun

    steep wall of rock, earth, or ice.

    		 Encyclopedic Entry: cliff
    environment Noun

    conditions that surround and influence an organism or community.
    plateau Noun

    large region that is higher than the surrounding area and relatively flat.

    		 Encyclopedic Entry: plateau
    prehistoric Adjective

    period of time that occurred before the invention of written records.
    tepui Noun

    isolated mesa found in the Guiana Highlands of South America.
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Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

Jan. 13, 2012

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