Gocta (Spanish: Catarata del Gocta) is a perennial waterfall with two drops located in Chachapoyas province of Peru in Amazonas, approximately 700 km to the northeast of Lima. It flows into the Cocahuayco River. Although the waterfall had been well known to locals for centuries, its existence was not made known to the world until after an expedition made in 2005 by a German, Stefan Ziemendorff, with a group of Peruvian explorers.
The total height of the waterfall is 771 meters. The waterfall, which can be seen from several kilometers away, has been christened Gocta Falls, after the name of the nearest settlement.
The daily El Comercio said that the impressive waterfall had remained unknown to outsiders until now, because local people feared the curse of a beautiful blond mermaid who lived in its waters, if they revealed its whereabouts. The falls are supposed to be protected by a white haired mermaid like spirit whos hair can be seen flowing down the massive U shaped walls at the bottom of the falls.
On 13 March 2006, the Peruvian government announced to the press that the area surrounding the falls would be developed as a tourist attraction. A small hotel was built 10 km from the base of the waterfall, with all rooms having views of the waterfall. Tourists can now hike the trails by foot or horse to the misty base of the waterfall. The nearby town of Chachapoyas is located at an altitude of 2235 meters. The waterfall is at a slightly higher altitude and thus clouds can be seen to occasionally eclipse part of the view.
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