Abstract
Abstract. Evidences of previous glaciation in the northwestern Venezuelan Andes, mainly in Páramo de Piedras Biancas, include a main morainic level at 3400 to 3700 m, and minor moraines at higher elevations up to about 4300. Glaciated valleys, hanging valleys, rock, steps, glacial channels, cirques, arêtes, horns, striae and grooves on polished rock, roche mountonnés, and whaleback forms, are the main evidence of glacial sculpture and erosion. The main morainic level probably represents a Late Wisconsin glacial advance, and the higher moraines are either neo-glacial or due to minor readvances during the main postglacial retreat. The main morainic level, 400 m higher than that in the southeastern Venezuelan Andes, indicates that the glacial climate was drier in the northwestern part than in the southeastern part of this mountain range. Present-day periglacial features include micro-terrassettes, turf exfoliation, talus, and striated ground, above 3500 m; and nonsorted stripes, sorted polygons or sorted circles, and sorted nets, above 4000 m. The present-day periglacial zone is located between approximately 3600 and 4700 m. During glacial times it probably readied down to 2400 m in the southeastern, and 2900 m in the northwestern parts of the Venezuelan Andes.
Highlights
The Päramo de Piedras Biancas, the most extensive high altitude zone in the north western Venezuelan Andes (Sierra deLaCulata ), is located (Fig. 1) between approximately 8° 50' and 8° 54' N. latitude, 70° 5 1 ' and 70° 55' W . longitude
The Rio Chama flows longitudinally along the central, fault-controlled, valley of the Venezuelan Andes, in a southwest direction, and the latter flows directly north west, both ending in the Lake Maracaibo Basin
Several northeast trending faults occur in the region, but the main structural feature is the Bocono Fault, a major geotectonic break which follows the valleys of the Rio Chama and R i o Santo Domingo, just southeast of the area (KOVISARS 1971, Fig. 5)
Summary
The Päramo de Piedras Biancas, the most extensive high altitude zone in the north western Venezuelan Andes (Sierra deLaCulata ) , is located (Fig. 1) between approximately 8° 50' and 8° 54' N. latitude, 70° 5 1 ' and 70° 55' W . longitude. From these data, and the distribution of the stations (Fig. 1 ) , it is clear that the southeastern part of Päramo de Piedras Biancas is in a " d r y " belt (yearly rainfall between 6 0 0 and 8 0 0 m) lying along the central axis of the Venezuelan Andes The distribution of the stations (Fig. 1 ) , it is clear that the southeastern part of Päramo de Piedras Biancas is in a " d r y " belt (yearly rainfall between 6 0 0 and 8 0 0 m) lying along the central axis of the Venezuelan Andes The altimeter w a s frequently checked during the day at points of known elevation
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