Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Treetop Walkway in National Park

By - - and IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

CARACAS, Dec 22 2008 (IPS) - The people of Caracas will soon be enjoying El Ávila National Park from among its tallest trees, some 30 meters above the ground, standing on a walkway of hanging bridges 120 meters long. In addition to the enjoyment of the view, the path “is a way to educate those who make the climb to the treetops. The Caracans should be aware of how privileged they are to have this majestic mountain. In order to conserve, we have to have knowledge,” park director Alexis Zambrano told Tierramérica.

The sky bridges — for guided visits, in combination with tours on the ground — were to open to the public on Dec. 12, when the park celebrated its 50th birthday, but heavy rains prevented the inauguration, which is now postponed until the dry season.

The park sits on 85,000 hectares in the mountains that separate the Venezuelan capital from the Caribbean coast.