Cuquenan Falls – Second Tallest Free-Leaping Waterfall in the World

Cuquenan Falls – Second Tallest Free-Leaping Waterfall in the World – The mesmerizingly awe-inspiring waterfall draws collective attention and admiration. Why do travelers cross the world in search of them? Maybe aesthetic beauty invokes a sense of calm, or the sheer power and magnitude awaken inquisitive nature, however, humans associate waterfalls with clean, fresh water and, as such, with life.

The Cuquenan Falls also called, Salto Kukenan, Kukenaam, is the second tallest major waterfall in Venezuela after Angel Falls. It is also the second tallest free-leaping waterfall in the world. The waterfall is usually cited as the 11th highest waterfall in the world. The Cuquenan Falls drop in a single leap of around 2,211 feet and the final portion of the falls trickles down towards the base of the Kukenan Tepui.

The Kukenan Tepui is located nearby Mount Roraima and serves as the geographical marker of the border between Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. Cuquenan Falls, which is similar to Yumbilla, is known for being tall, but not powerful, however, can be difficult to access due to its isolation, but is best viewed from a distance.

Mount Roraima also hosts its own waterfall, usually referred to as Roraima Falls, which leaps off the tepui in four-tiered leaps. The height is estimated at approximately 2,000 feet. There has been some disagreement over the years about the overall ranking of “Cuquenan Falls” among the world’s tallest waterfalls.

Therefore, the falls have been listed anywhere from the 2nd to 20th in various publications and Internet sites. Thus, these discrepancies perhaps arise because most official measurements of the falls take into consideration only the free-leaping portion, omitting the bottom part that cascades along the tepui. Moreover, some published listings incorporate free-falling measurements only when arguing that its height is not ample for the top 10 tallest waterfalls. Source: Wikipedia