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The
department of Amazonas, named
after the Amazon River, provides an extraordinary view of
endless leafy forest for those flying over the region. Here
and there one can spot villages and towns, even large cities
built with great effort in the middle of the jungle.One of
these cities is Chachapoyas, capital of the department of
Amazonas.
The cradle of the ancient Chachapoya civilization, the city
was overrun by the Incas in the fifteenth century, and decades
later, after the Spanish Conquest, was founded once more by
the Spaniards with the name of Chachapoyas. The main square
and the narrow pebbled streets that have been preserved until
today date back to these times. Some 70 km west lies the fortress
of Kuélap, the bastion of the Chachapoya tribe, a citadel
whose access is through narrow walled passages like sloping
funnels which helped to keep out invaders. Those same passageways
today host tours led by experienced local guides. Other attractions
include Laguna de las Momias (a region where archaeologists
discovered more than 280 mummies), or the Karajía burial
tombs, which stand 2 meters high and are made of hardened
clay. Wedged into a mountain cliff, the sarcophagi appear
to guard over their ancestral grounds.
Amazonas is known for its joyful dances and colorful festivals.
The town of Jalca, which is held to be the capital of jungle
folklore, holds a series of celebrations all year-long, blending
the rituals of local tribes with Christianity. Tasty local
dishes worth sampling include the Purtumute, Tacacho and Cecina. |
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