Travel Guide Santa Elena De Uairen

(Km 315). 1920, Protestant missionaries arrive from English Guiana and establish a mission to Akurima a hill which borders the valley of Uairén. Don Lucas Fernández Peña, first settler, settled in September 1923 with the support of 130 armed flèches and stones Indians. It defeats the English who wish to take possession of the precious territory. Thanks to him, Venezuela sacked 38 000 km 2 of land. Two years later he founded Santa Elena de Uairén. The area is rich in gold, diamond and rock crystal. In 1931, the mission of Caroní detached a Escadron squadron on site. Located at 907 m above sea level, Santa Elena is a small town surrounded by mining operations. You will find everything you have been deprived of in Gran Sabana: hot water, fresh food, telephone, petrol, doctor, post, Internet, etc. It is the most important city in the region with its 15 000 inhabitants (695 in 1950 and 11 000 in 1991!), mainly involved in the mining sector, but everything remains very provincial. It comes mainly to the Roraïma, or a stop to the villages of the west (El Pauji, Icabarú). Once catastrophic, alternatives to change money have improved in recent years. In case of total ruin, you will try your luck with travel agencies, but do not make too many illusions…