A few of these natural wonders have only been discovered within the last century. Tourists from near and far places across the globe now travel to South America to feast their eyes on these amazing wonders of nature.

Tequendama Falls in Bogota, Colombia is the second largest waterfall in the world. The falls are located twenty minutes west of the capital city. Interestingly, the falls are completely dry during the month of December.

For the indigenous people who lived near the falls before imperialism, Tequendama Falls was not merely a place for holiday vacation. According to legend, indigenous people would jump off the Tequendama Falls to flee forced slavery during the Spanish conquest.

It was believed that people who jumped became eagles that flew to freedom and escaped the grips of servitude. The waterfall represented a sense of escape and freedom in a time when their livelihoods were in grave danger.

Venezuela is home to Angela Falls, one of the country’s top tourist attractions. Angel Falls is the world’s highest waterfall. Most water from the falls evaporates before reaching the ground because of its immense height.

Angel Falls in Venezuela

Angel Falls was undiscovered by the outside world until November 16, 1933 when American aviator Jimmie Angel flew over the waterfalls and brought word of its majesty to non-native Venezuelans.

The Falls were named “Angel Falls” in his honor. Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, rejected the name. Instead, Chavez suggested the indigenous phrase “Kerepakupai Merú”, which translates to “waterfall of the deepest place”.

Chavez claimed that the falls were known by Venezuelans before Jimmie Angel’s accidental discovery in 1933. However, Chavez did not formally change the name, declaring that the indigenous name for the falls was more appropriate than the Americanized version.

For Chavez, the falls were a part of Venezuela’s heritage and history.  Angel Falls, as people outside of Venezuela know it, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gocta Falls in Chachapoyas, Peru was discovered eight years ago by a German named Stefan Ziemendorff. Before Ziemendorff’s expedition to the Falls, the site was a well kept secret of Peruvian natives.

Gocta Falls in Peru

The natives of the area hid the Falls because they feared that a blonde mermaid, who allegedly resided in the water, would put a curse on them for revealing her sacred falls. 

Gocta is nestled in the Peruvian jungles, five hours from the village of Cocachimba. Along the way to the falls, rare birds, toucans, and other species of the Peruvian jungle thrive.

Organized tourist groups are not yet in place for Gocta Falls. Travelers seeking to blaze a trail through the unchartered Peruvian jungle are advised to be in good physical shape before setting out on this expedition.

As evidenced by the discovery of Angel and Gocta Falls, the world is full of water wonders, and some are yet to be discovered. Tequendama Falls, Angel Falls and Gocta Falls are unique water landscapes that hold distinct cultural identities. The revenue generated from trips to these locations could spur economic growth for local communities while promoting cultural awareness for visitors and tourists.

Understanding communities through their waters is essential to preserving national identities and promoting development for local communities. When visiting these distant and historic places, keep in mind the legend of the falls.