Daring adventurers break slackline record with walk across world's tallest waterfall
Over 1,000 m above the ground, a daring group of adventurers walked a slackline suspended above the world’s tallest waterfall.
Kerepakupai Merú, aka Salto Ángel or Angel Falls, located on a branch of the Carrao River, in eastern Venezuela, became the stage for the highest highline over a waterfall.
Lukas Irmler, Antonia Rüede-Passul, Jens Decke, Karl Schrader, Valentin Rapp (all Germany) and Rafael Bridi (Brazil) broke the record together by crossing a 148-m-long (485-ft 6-in) highline at a height of 1,008 m (3,307 ft) above the falls in October last year.
This daring attempt, over the waterfall with a total drop of 979 m (3,212 ft), was ratified by the International Slackline Association.
The group trekked through the jungle for six days to reach the anchor point where they’d get ready to perform their epic record attempt.
They were helped along the way by a group of guides and porters from the Indigenous Pemon Kamarakoto people.
And in honour of the local people and their culture, the slackline was named "Amanöm", which in the Pemon language means "the most beautiful".
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Lukas, one of the six brave souls to cross the slackline, said: “Finally, I have the answer to the question: which is the most beautiful line I've ever walked?
“It clearly is this walk above the Angel Falls. This line has everything I am searching for: a crazy exposure and an unmatched height, a stunning landscape and a wild adventure to even get there.”
And he’s not kidding.
It’s clear from these images captured by Valentin, another of the slackliners, just what a momentous occasion the walk was.
One snap shows a few members of the group sitting on the edge of the falls, watching on as water cascades down the rocks.
The view is absolutely stunning.
Other snaps taken from above show the terrifying drop beneath the line as the team take turns to cross from one side to the other.
Another crosser, Jens, added: "For me, highlining is truly unique because it unites my two worlds: on one hand, it requires my engineering background to plan and build the lines safely; on the other, it’s a demanding athletic challenge - both as a team during the set-up and individually when walking the line without falling...
“Standing above Körepakupai Wena feels like closing a circle - everything I’ve learned, built and dreamed of in highlining comes together in this one project, at this one place, in this one line.”
Images by Valentin Rapp