Rock of Piedra de Guatape
Colombia, Antioquia, Guatape, El Penol
Description:
The rock of El Peñon de Guatape, Piedra de Guatape or Piedra del Penol is a freestanding rock and lies between the cities of Guatape and El Penol in Colombia. Both cities have been fighting for years for the right to call the rock a landmark of their city, hence so many names.
The rock is about 70 million years old, its length is 380 meters, width is 100 meters, height is 220 meters, height above sea level is 2135 meters. The mass of this natural stone of quartz, feldspar and mica is about 10 million tons. In the middle of the XX century near the rock was formed reservoir Guatape.
The first ascent to the top of the cliff took place in the summer of 1954 by three residents of the city of Guatape.
On the surface of the rock there is only one crevice, in the depths of which in the middle of the last century a staircase with 650 steps was arranged, along which you can climb up and contemplate the beautiful panorama of the surrounding area from the observation deck or from a three-storey tower.
In the early 1940s, the rock was taken under state protection and is now a national monument. Repair and maintenance of the staircase is carried out at a cost of $ 2 per excursion.