mysteries that are still being discovered

A world that still has mysteries ready to be discovered........

Latin America is celebrating. Most major newspapers make reference to the newest discovery in the Peruvian Amazon basin: the third highest most waterfalls in the world. Just when the world seemed so discovered and we were heading off to the stars and other planets, we realize that our own planet has wonderful hidden treasures, natural and those created by mankind.

Not so long ago –in terms of history- in that very same country and in a similar rainforest geography, at the beginning of the 20th century, an American explorer by the name of Hiram Bingham discovered the lost Inca Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Not even discovered by the Spanish conquerors, the amazing Inca construction was covered by the jungle like vegetation. Today, nearly a century after that discovery, explorers from Peru and Germany lead by Stefan Ziemendorff discover this natural sanctuary that is the Gocta waterfall. The surrounding area within the Chachapoyas province in North east Peru beholds also a recent amazing discovery, that of a non Inca citadel fortress of several hundred years that was at the frontiers of the Andes Empire in the Utcubamba valley.

According to the information provided by the research group, this waterfall ranks third in the world, after El Salto del Angel –The Angels Jump- in Venezuela featuring 972 meters; and Tugela Falls of 948 meters in South Africa.

The 771 meter high waterfall was a natural sanctuary for the local indigenous populations of the area. Descendants to the Chachapoyas Indians, one of the few ethnic groups that were able to repel the Inca conquest, the locals who knew and venerated this Mother Nature’s monument, had never said a word about it because they feared some kind of curse from the water mermaid like goddess they worship.
The importance in terms of culture and paradise unspoiled location of this discovery has to be always remembered and bared in mind for any sort of tourist like visits or tours, being respectful of Nature as well as the locals, for whom –according to their system of believes- this is a sacred sanctuary.


For more information: Email: Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go back to web blog:Daily Updates on Art, Antiques, Collectibles as well as travel information for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Phone me thru Skype, ID: Bob Frassinetti or you can also chat with me thru Yahoo, press here:
Yahoo Contact
Find me on MySpace and be my friend!