Aleksandrs Laime
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Aleksandrs Laime | |
---|---|
Born | July 9, 1911 |
Died | March 21, 1994 |
Aleksandrs Laime[1] (Spanish: Alejandro Laime, English: Alexander Laime) was a famous Latvian-born explorer. He is most noted for being the first recorded human to reach Angel Falls, located in Venezuela, by foot. He also established, together with Charles Baughan, the tourist camp of Canaima, created solely for the purpose of bringing tourists to Angel Falls.[2]
Early life
Aleksandrs Laime was born on July 9, 1911, in
After his return to Riga, Laime studied at the
In 1939, Laime started a sailing trip from Riga to Africa, but due to start of World War II was stopped in Kiel. However, he managed to reach Africa via the United Kingdom and Spain. He traveled across the western coast of Africa until he reached Cape Town. Laime then boarded a merchant ship and traveled to the coasts of the United States and Canada. In 1940, he landed in Caracas and settled in Venezuela.
Activity in Venezuela
After moving to Venezuela in 1940, Laime led many explorations through the jungles of the south of the country. During his first years in Venezuela, Laime worked as a
Search for the "Golden River"
After hearing news of Jimmie Angel's famed "Golden River", Laime, like many of his contemporaries, went in search of the river. He never publicized if he actually found it, but close friends claim that he actually had found it. After Laime's death in 1994, approximately $20,000 were found in a tin can, underneath Laime's fireplace in his house on Isla Orquidea (an island on the Río Carrao, two hours upstream from Canaima).
Death
Laime came down the Churun River on March 20, 1994, to stockpile food and supplies for the next few weeks, as he usually did. He spoke to the wife of Ramón Jiménez, asking for him. He complained to her about chest pains, and said that he knew that the end was near. He is reported as saying that he wanted to climb the great tepui (
References
- ^ LAIME, ALEKSANDRS. "ALEKSANDRS LAIME". VOLAR. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9781841622996.
- ^ Pētersone, Līva. "Kas bija Aleksandrs Laime". Diena. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ ISBN 9789350572474.
- Stavro, Andris., "Aleksandrs Laime un viņa zelta upe" (Apgāds Jāņa Sēta, Rīga, 1999, ISBN 9984-07-184-7)
- Personal account of Maria Jimenez, March 13, 2008