Bust of the Liberator again crown the summit of Venezuela's highest peak, Pico Bolívar, after an expedition of 60 people and three days at sea, should be responsible to take his pedestal this icon architectural, historical and tourist end last year had to be moved to the city of Mérida for necessary restoration and replication.

This activity, which was part of the many celebrations that occurred April 19 in the country, was a joint effort between the Ministry of Popular Power for Tourism and its attached agencies (who were responsible for the logistics of the expedition) and the State Government, through officials of the Institute of Civil Protection and Disaster Management of Mérida (Inpradem), Foundation for the Development of Culture (Fundecem), and others, who, along with the young climbers various voluntary organizations of the state, were aimed at putting in place the bronze Bicentennial Libertador for this date.

The original piece was created in 1933 by the artist Mark Leon Marino, and had to be lowered from its pedestal by the multiple injuries he had suffered. With this original was copied in bronze by sculptor José Luis Aponte, who with a special technique that protects it from inclement weather, created the bust of 80 kg divided into three pieces and placed in "expuertas" - pieces that facilitate Individual transportation work for the expedition - and that eased the ascent of the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

The caravan that marked the beginning of the tour started on Friday 16 April from the Plaza Bolivar in Merida and the climbers arrived home Sunday Peña (+) in La Aguada, Saturday 17. Then he took the southern route or Weiss to arrive this April 19 to nearly 5 thousand feet, and place the work, which since 1951, crowned the country's highest peak.

It is worth noting the joint work of 15 rescue groups, who alternated the load, and despite the adverse weather conditions, where they encountered snow, rain and hail, will not shrink from the firstborn purpose of the expedition.

The return was made by the Mérida cable car system, using the cabins on three stages, and in the other, the burden baskets were empowered to go up and down all used in this monumental task of Merida climbers. (Press Mintur).

rbv.info

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