Just 20 miles due west of the city is a 10-foot-high glacial moraine that separates the Mississippi and its vast north-south system of tributaries from the Great Lake waterways.

FORBES: A most unromantic river

Paragliding is another popular way to enjoy the mountains, as the glacial peaks offer high altitude jumping off points with strong winds, giving pilots plenty of air time to enjoy the view of patchwork valleys below.

BBC: Venezuela��s Andean playground