Gocta Cataracts, Two-tiered waterfall in Amazonas, Peru.
The Gocta Cataracts cascade down in two sections, with the upper tier falling 700 feet and the lower section descending 1,770 feet into a natural amphitheater.
German explorer Stefan Ziemendorff led expeditions in 2005 that resulted in the official measurement and global recognition of this 771-meter-high natural formation.
Local residents kept the waterfall location private for generations due to traditional beliefs about a mermaid protecting the waters of Gocta.
Visitors can reach the waterfall through established hiking trails from the nearby village, with options for both walking and horseback riding to the base.
The waterfall maintains a consistent flow throughout the year, releasing approximately 200 cubic feet of water per second into the Cocahuayco River.
Location: Amazonas Department
Height: 540 m
GPS coordinates: -6.02312,-77.88699
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:29
Waterfalls have a way of drawing people in. The sound of falling water, the mist that rises from the base, the way light catches the spray. Some of the most striking examples sit in places that remain relatively quiet, where the journey itself becomes part of the experience. These destinations reward travelers who make the effort, offering moments of solitude that are increasingly rare around natural landmarks. This collection includes places like the limestone terraces of Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, where a chain of interconnected pools spills from one to the next through forest shade. Or the red sandstone walls of Coyote Gulch in Utah, where water carved out hidden alcoves and pools over countless seasons. In India, Nohkalikai Falls drops from a forested plateau into a green pool far below. China's Huangguoshu Waterfall has a cave tucked behind the curtain of water itself. At the Vietnam-China border, Ban Gioc-Detian spreads wide across the landscape, while Angel Falls in Venezuela tumbles nearly a thousand meters from a flat topped mountain. Norway's Geirangerfjord hosts the Seven Sisters, a cluster of parallel streams that flow straight into the fjord. Iceland's Dettifoss sends an immense volume of glacial water over black volcanic rock. South Africa's Tugela Falls descends in stages from the dramatic cliff face of the Drakensberg range. And in the Philippines, Kawasan Falls creates a series of turquoise pools beneath a canopy of tropical growth. Each place has its own character, shaped by the rock, the climate, and the surrounding terrain.
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