Lost World: Roraima

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.
Articles & Profiles
- World Wildlife Fund: Tepuis
- National Geographic News: 'Lost World' Mesas Showcase South America's Evolution
Images
- National Geographic Science: Plateau Photo Gallery

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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Producer

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

Jan. 13, 2012

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