Machu Picchu's archeological site
The Emblem of Peru
Information about Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is one of the most spectacular attractions in South America. The well-preserved Inca ruins are situated high up in the Andes Mountains in a lush cloud forest above the Urubamba Valley, northwest of Cusco, Peru. It was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1983, and in 2007 was voted in an online poll as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Mystery surrounds the site, with archaeologists still not sure of its purpose. It is believed to have been built by the emperor Pachacuteq in the 15th century. Spanish exploration led to the end of Inca empire, but Machu Picchu is thought to have already been abandoned by this time. There is evidence that paths leading to the citadel were burned, and this, along with its remote location, meant that it would be nearly another 400 years before it was known to the rest of the world. When Hiram Bingham rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911, most of the site was still in its original state.
To preserve the site and encourage sustainability, there is a limit to the number of visitors allowed to visit per day. The easiest way to reach Machu Picchu is by train. For an unforgettable experience, you can take a 1- or 4-day hike along the historic Inca Trail. Have your passport stamped at the entrance of the site as a souvenir of this classic adventure.
Interesting facts about Machu Picchu
During the years that the Inca empire was at its height (1471-1525), Copernicus was born, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel, and Magellan first anchored in South America.
“Machu Picchu” is not what the Inca called the site. Hiram Bingham was pointed to “Machu Picchu” by a farmer in Quechua language, a term meaning “old peak” or “old mountain.”
The Inca empire was the largest empire in South American history. At its height, it dominated a huge portion of the continent and ruled approximately 12 million people. Only about 300 to 1000 people inhabited the site at Machu Picchu. These were members of the Inca nobility.
Machu Picchu’s was constructed without the use of mortar. Using a technique called ashlar, stones were carved into the right shape to perfectly fit together, so precisely that even a knife blade cannot fit between them.
Hundreds of terraces below the citadel stop it from sliding downhill. Andenes, or platforms, are an agricultural technique developed by the Inca that allowed them to defy the rugged terrain of the Andes and grow crops such as maize, potatoes, quinoa, and coca.
Machu Picchu was a site for astronomical observation. The sacred Intihuantana stone was used as a clock and calendar, with the sun setting directly on it at equinoxes and illuminating it on the summer solstice. This helped the Inca to know the best time for planting and harvesting.
The vegetation around the site is lush and diverse, including over 300 species of orchids.
Llamas roam around the ruins, and the animal was sacred to the Inca as well. Parts of the structure are shaped like a llama, and evidence of llamas being ritually sacrificed has been found within the temples.
Pictures of Machu Picchu
