Churún Vena

Churún Vena is one of two significant waterfalls in adjacent canyons which have been frequently confused with Angel Falls (Kerepakupai Meru) in the past. The falls drain a basin on the southwest portion of the famous Auyan Tepui and leap approximately 1,300 feet into a narrow finger canyon of the much larger Devil's Canyon which bisects Auyan Tepui from north to south. The falls exhibit roughly the same seasonal behavior as the others in the immediate area, flowing very heavily during the rainy season and shrinking to just a trickle during the dry season. There is no trail access to this waterfall so the only way to view it via aircraft.The names of both this waterfall and neighboring Churún Merú have caused an inordinate amount of confusion, with both names frequently being improperly used to reference Angel Falls (Kerepakupai Merú) which is found about 6km to the north. The meaning of "Churún" is not immediately known, but one source suggests it may translate roughly to something like "Dragon" or "Monster". The words Merú and Vena are both used to refer to waterfalls in the native Pemon language, but the distinction between the two (whether there is one) is not known. It is possible that Churún Vena is not actually the proper title for this waterfall, but the only source we have any faith in has listed it as such, so until we receive further information which could clarify the situation, it will remain listed as such.