Haitón del Guarataro

The Haitón del Guarataro is a solutional cave system in the Sierra de San Luis in Falcón State, Venezuela, 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south-east of Curimagua. It is the deepest limestone cave in Venezuela,[1] and the entrance is a tourist attraction within the Juan Crisóstomo Falcón National Park.[2] A large entrance shaft 12 metres (39 ft) in diameter leads via drops of 168 metres (551 ft), 55 metres (180 ft), and 19 metres (62 ft) to a stream passage which eventually chokes. It has a depth of 305 metres (1,001 ft), and a total passage length of 640 metres (2,100 ft). It was first explored and surveyed in April 1973 by members of the Venezuela '73 British Karst Research Expedition.[3] It is formed in Oligocene reefal limestone.[4]

Haitón del Guarataro
Entrance shaft of Haitón del Guarataro
Location of Haitón del Guarataro within Venezuela
LocationFalcón State, Venezuela
Coordinates11°08′59″N 69°41′23″W
Depth305 metres (1,001 ft)
Length640 metres (2,100 ft)
Elevation1,000 metres (3,300 ft)
DiscoveryApril 1973
GeologyOligocene limestone
Entrances1
HazardsVerticality
Cave surveyBKRE 1973

References
  1. Herrera, Francisco; et al. (2006). "Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología 2007". Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Espeleología. 40: 5–11. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. Kohn, Beth (2007). Lonely Planet Venezuela. Lonely Planet. p. 154. ISBN 9781741045451. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  3. Chapman, Phil; Checkley, Dave (March 1981). "Caves of the Serrania de San Luis, Edo Falcon: The British Karst Research Expedition to Venezuela, 1973" (PDF). Transactions of the British Cave Research Association. 8 (1): 1–26. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  4. Gunn, John, ed. (2004). Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science. London: Fitzroy Dearborn. p. 110. ISBN 978-1579583996.
Camping on a ledge at -223 metres during the 1973 explorations
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