Chota, Peru

Chota is a town in Northern Peru, capital of the province Chota in the region Cajamarca. The city is the seat of the Territorial Prelature of Chota.HistoryIn pre-Inca times, chotanos territories were occupied by various cultures, such as Los Huambos in the West and Cuismanco in the east, getting a strong influence of the Chavin, Wari and Moche cultures of which there are archaeological remains of great importance as Pacopampa, Negropampa, Rejopampa and others.The foundation of the city of Chota took place on two dates: one in 1552 and another in 1559, it is not clear if it was on these two dates.During the Pacific War, after the Battle of San Pablo the Araucanian (from the city of Arauco) entered Chota, to which the people decided to poison the waters of the river Colpamayo and by that the Chilean ordered the burning of the city.On August 29, 1882, Chota was burned by Chilean troops in retaliation for the defeat they suffered in San Pablo and consider it as the headquarters of the North. Thousands of homes fell, the church was also burned, saving the image of the Patroness, Mary Immaculate, whose dogma was proclaimed on December 8.GeographyIt is located at 2,388 meters above sea level on the eastern slope of the Andes, on the plateau of Acunta surrounded by the rivers of San Mateo and Colpamayo; 180 km north of Cajamarca and 170 km east of Chiclayo.