Machu Picchu - Lost City of the Incas Machu Picchu - Lost City of the Incas Machu Picchu is an old Inca site located in the mountains of Peru, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco. Archaeologists think that Machu Picchu was built as a home for the emperor of the Incas, a civilization that lived there before Columbus discovered America. The site is often called the Lost City of the Incas. The Spanish conquistadors started conquering the Inca in the 16 th century . But history tells us that they did not know anything about the historic site of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was not known to the outside world until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered the site in 1911. Since then a large part of the settlement has been restored and today, Machu Picchu attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world. In 1983 it became a UNESCO World Heritage site . Travelling to Machu Picchu is no easy deal .Most visitors take the plane to the Peruvian capital Lima and then to Cusco, a small town in the Andes, once the capital of the Inca empire .

There they get used to the altitude of 3,500 meters. From Cusco many tourists take the train to Machu Picchu, although some very tough ones go up the Inca Trail , which takes about three or four days. When going on foot you must make reservations because Peruvian authorities only allow a certain number of visitors on the trail every day. Machu Picchu - Lost City of the Incas - Once you get there Machu Picchu often shows the average tourist a mystic image. The site is situated on top of a high hill with steep slopes dropping to the valleys below. The mountains are often covered in fog and clouds. The ruins of Machu Picchu are divided into two sections. In the agricultural area visitors can see how the Inca grew their crops and worked on their land. In the urban section you can see the Temple of the Sun and other buildings where people lived and worshipped their gods. Many tourists rush through Machu Picchu in a day and catch the last train back to Cusco, but some people take their time and spend the night in Aguas Calientes, the nearest town, only 6 kilometres away.

Those who are in good physical shape can go on hiking trips in the nearby mountains and visit smaller peaks in the area. Although Machu Picchu is Peru’s main tourist attraction the government is worried by almost one million tourists who visit the Andean fortress every year. Archaeologists are afraid that the increasing number of tourists will damage the ruins and let the citadel slide down the steep mountains as the soil gives way .

although = while altitude = height archaeologist = person who studies old towns and cultures and examines the buildings that were built centuries ago attract = pull towards you, catch the attention of attraction = place which many people visit authorities = organization or a government department that has power average = normal capital = most important city of a country; where the government is century = a hundred years certain = special citadel = fortress; group of buildings or a castle that is used to defend yourself conquistador = Spanish soldiers who explored the New World and took land and riches away from the people who lived there crop = a plant that farmers grow and use as food damage = destroy discover = to find for the first time emperor = man who rules a group of countries empire = group of countries ruled by a king or a queen fog = cloudy air near the ground fortress = group of buildings that are important for defending yourself give w ay = here: break away good physical shape = your body is strong government = people who rule a country increase = go up make a reservation = book in advance, before you go mystic = something that is related to religion and that people find hard to understand outside world = the civilized world peak = the sharply pointed top of a mountain restore = to make something return to its earlier condition

 or state ruins = what is left of old buildings rush through = go through a place very quickly settlement = town slope = the side of a mountain soil = the top layer of earth steep = sharp, abrupt Machu Picchu - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Google Machu Picchu’s Inca Past Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the Inca Empire, which dominated western South America in the 15th and 16th centuries.

It was abandoned an estimated 100 years after its construction, probably around the time the Spanish began their conquest of the mighty pre-Columbian civilization in the 1530s. There is no evidence that the conquistadors ever attacked or even reached the mountaintop citadel, however; for this reason, some have suggested that the residents’ desertion occurred because of a smallpox epidemic. Did You Know? Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries. Many modern-day archaeologists now believe that Machu Picchu served as a royal estate for Inca emperors and nobles. Others have theorized that it was a religious site, pointing to its proximity to mountains and other geographical features that the Incas held sacred. Dozens of alternate hypotheses have cropped up in the years since Machu Picchu was first unveiled to the world, with scholars variously interpreting it as a prison, a trade hub, a station for testing new crops, a women’s retreat or a city devoted to the coronation of kings, among many examples.

Machu Picchu’s “Discovery” by Hiram Bingham In the summer of 1911 the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham arrived in Peru with a small team of explorers hoping to find Vilcabamba, the last Inca stronghold to fall to the Spanish. Traveling on foot and by mule, Bingham and his team made their way from Cuzco into the Urubamba Valley, where a local farmer told them of some ruins located at the top of a nearby mountain. The farmer called the mountain Machu Picchu, which translates to “old peak” in the native Quechua language. On July 24, after a tough climb to the mountain’s ridge in cold and drizzly weather, Bingham met a small group of peasants who showed him the rest of the way. Led by an 11-year-old boy, Bingham got his first glimpse of the intricate network of stone terraces marking the entrance to Machu Picchu. The excited Bingham spread the word about his discovery in a best-selling book, “The Lost City of the Incas,” sending hordes of eager tourists flocking to Peru to follow in his footsteps up the formerly obscure Inca Trail.

He also excavated artifacts from Machu Picchu and took them to Yale University for further inspection, igniting a custody dispute that lasted nearly 100 years. It was not until the Peruvian government filed a lawsuit and lobbied President Barack Obama for the return of the items that Yale agreed to complete their repatriation. Although he is credited with making Machu Picchu known to the world—indeed, the highway tour buses use to reach it bears his name—it is not certain that Bingham was the first outsider to visit it. There is evidence that missionaries and other explorers reached the site during the 19th and early 20th centuries but were simply less vocal about what they uncovered there. The Site of Machu Picchu In the midst of a tropical mountain forest on the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu’s walls, terraces, stairways and ramps blend seamlessly into its natural setting. The site’s finely crafted stonework, terraced fields and sophisticated irrigation system bear witness to the Inca civilization’s architectural, agricultural and engineering prowess. Its central buildings are prime examples of a masonry technique mastered by the Incas in which stones were cut to fit together without mortar.

Archaeologists have identified several distinct sectors that together comprise the city, including a farming zone, a residential neighborhood, a royal district and a sacred area. Machu Picchu’s most distinct and famous structures include the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana stone, a sculpted granite rock that is believed to have functioned as a solar clock or calendar. Machu Picchu Today A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu is Peru’s most visited attraction and South America’s most famous ruins, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people a year. Increased tourism, the development of nearby towns and environmental degradation continue to take their toll on the site, which is also home to several endangered species. As a result, the Peruvian government has taken steps to protect the ruins and prevent erosion of the mountainside in recent years. Tags Machu Picchu - Research Paper Order Now! Machu Picchu - Sample Research Paper Machu Picchu, which translates from an ancient South American indigenous language as “old peak” is the ruin of a city high in the mountains of Peru.

It is associated with the Inca civilization and often called the “lost city of the Incas”. Though obviously inhabited in ancient times, Machu Picchu is a relatively recent archeological find because it had been forgotten by all except indigenous local peoples. It was rediscovered around the turn of the twentieth century. Though the site was originally thought to be purely religious in nature, recent archeological finds point to the idea of its being a resort: a palace and surrounding compound, including temples, for Incan rulers. About twelve hundred people probably inhabited the site at any one time (Wikipedia). Machu Picchu is a large archeological site comprised of many structures. Though ideas as to what exactly its function or place in Inca society was tend to vary, current archeological thought says that Machu Picchu is divided into three main areas or districts: The Sacred District, so-called because it contains several temples, the Popular District, and the Royalty District, where it is thought that priests and nobility resided.

The city was likely built in the 15th century by the Emperor Pachacutec, and abandoned when the Spanish missionaries in the area brought an outbreak of smallpox that would likely have killed off much of Machu Picchu’s population. All of the more than one hundred and forty buildings in the districts are made using the same architecture, a distinctive technique that helped researchers conclusively identify the site as Incan. The buildings are all made of stone, tightly fit together without any mortar, which is classic Inca style. The mystery is how the Incans managed to do this, since we have no evidence that they used the wheel: how did they move the giant blocks? The site also features many stone staircases, some carved right into the sides of mountains. How did Machu Picchu remain undiscovered by Western civilization for so long? Part of the answer lies in the fact that the city, nestled in mountains, is impossible to see from below.

Although the site covers nearly five miles and is made up of over a hundred buildings, researchers didn't find it until 1911, when a team from Yale University started to study it (although some “sightings” or other discoveries of the site, none of which led to any concerted research effort, were reported before 1911) (Hennessey 1). Researchers have since discovered the mummified bodies of several men and women, though original discoveries of more women than men led to the theory that the site might have been a training place for priestesses. The discovery of more male bones put the lie to this theory, and the site is now considered to have been a palace, albeit one equipped for religious observance. It contains several temples, including the Temple of the Sun, and an astronomical observatory containing the intihuatana, a column of stone said to be an example of the most sacred objects of the Inca. Legends say that when touching this column of stone, a priest or priestess’ mind was opened to the gods and visions of the future or past could be forthcoming.

The name of the object, which translates to “tying the sun”, refers to a yearly ceremony that was performed around the time of the winter solstice, in which a priest would symbolically use the pole as a hitching post to prevent the sun--being up, of course, for shorter and shorter times each day--from disappearing. This is one of the rare surviving examples of an intihuatana, because most were destroyed by Spanish conquistadores and missionaries trying to convert Incan civilization to Catholicism. It is assumed that the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, or they would have destroyed it as well. The site also contains what may be a royal tomb. Another interesting feature of Machu Picchu is the evidence that it was a farming site. Because of its location deep in the remote mountains, the irrigation techniques that had to be used to make the land viable rival sophisticated techniques used today (sacred sites.org). This fact, along with the advanced architecture and astronomical records and charts found, shows that the Inca were an extremely advanced civilization. Today, Machu Picchu is a protected site as well as a travel destination.

Tourists can hike up to the site, still as much of a challenge with modern technology as it must have been for the ancient Inca themselves. One can visit the thatched huts (some with red walls, denoting that intellectuals or wise men lived there), the temples, and the parks, marveling at the technological expertise they must have taken to produce. Because the area around Machu Picchu became a protected historical site of the country of Peru in 1981, it also serves as an animal refuge since no hunting or other harming of animals is allowed at the site. This means that most of the animals one might see there now are the same the Incans would have seen hundreds and even thousands of years ago, including literally hundreds of species of birds as well as alpacas, the llama-like animals whose fur the Incans harvested to make clothes, blankets, and ceremonial robes. Visiting Machu Picchu is like stepping back in time (“The Machu Picchu Gateway“). Works Cited and Consulted Hennessey, Hannah. “Row Erupts Over Peru’s Tourist Treasure.” BBC News Online. “Machu Picchu”. Wikipedia. “Machu Picchu Peru”. Sacred Sites.

“Machu Picchu”. UNESCO. Lost City of Machu Picchu Lost City of Machu Picchu Lost City of Machu Picchu The Lost City of Machu Picchu is a mysterious wonder; the Incas built there a city of stone, without the aid of wheels or iron tools. This is the best example of Inca engineering. They built more than 600 terraces to prevent the city from sliding down the mountain. They designed a water supply system with a length of about 1 km. For the Incas the architecture was especially important. The temples which were built around the city are oriented to catch the rays of the rising sun. The slopes of the roofs reflect the Huayna Picchu, the mountain that emerges after them. However, Machu Picchu has kept its secrets well, hiding for over 400 years its true meaning and purpose. Apparently Machu Picchu was divided into three main areas: the residential area, with the home of the wise men or amautas, trapezoidal rooms occupied by ñustas or princesses and the popular and sacred neighborhood.

The sacred neighborhood was dedicated to his principal deity Inti, Sun God; is in this area where are the main jewels of Intiwatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. Abandoned in the sixteenth century and invaded by the Andean forest, became a lost place and was forgotten even by the people who built it. Intact for centuries, Machu Picchu is a window to the past, through which we can know who built it: the Incas, an ancient civilization that created the most powerful empire in South America. For centuries, Machu Picchu was hidden to the world. The Spanish conquistadors never found it and the Incas who knew the location of Machu Picchu where eventually forgetting it. When Hiram Bingham arrived to the territory occupied by the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu, it was uninhabited at least since the fifteenth century, when the Inca Huayna Capac was still young. According to historian Victor Angles, the last Incas did not met Machu Picchu and therefore the Spanish never penetrated it, because by that time there were no roads or towns that would lead there.

Machu Picchu is one of the archaeological remains that arouses particular interest in the world and is undoubtedly the best expression that demonstrates the ability of the Andean people. They raise many theories about Machupicchu. One of the theories suggests that the city was unknown to the Incas, this occurs due to the type of construction and the lack of historical data that would indicate that it was a building older than the Incas, i.e. belonging to the pre-Inca. The second theory is that it was a Vestal center for the refuge of the Ñustas or Virgins of the Sun, so we can consider that it was a sacred city: this theory is because at the Spanish arrived, the Inca rulers, in order to avoid more thefts, these women were chosen escape to a secret location in the Andes, this place out to be the city of Machu Picchu. This theory is also explained by the discovery of 107 human remains, of which 68.9% were women remains.

A third theory is that Machu Picchu was the last capital of the Empire and Vilcabamba was the last city where the Incas retired led by Manco Inca in the year 1536 when he was defeated by the Spanish after surrounding Cuzco. Since Hiram Bingham unveiled Machupicchu in 1911, the site has attracted the admiration of the world and is perhaps the most historic site of identification for Peru. Machu Picchu - Crystalinks Machu Picchu Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Picchu, "Old mountain") is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,400 meters (7,875 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Cusco. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire.

The Incas started building the estate around AD 1400 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place. Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century.

Pseudoscience Much of what is linked to the ancient Inca, including the Nazca Lines , Ica Stones , Band of Holes near Pisco Valley, Peru and ruins at Tiwanaku and Machu Piccu, were created by ancient aliens who lived on the planet in another timeline. Unexplained evidence around the world - such as that presented on the History Channel TV series Ancient Aliens - points in that direction. Machu Picchu's unusual patterns are best viewed from the sky. Some people believe it to be a landing strip for extraterrestrials. Its celestial observatory depicts many patterns found on petroglyphs throughout the world. History Machu Picchu was constructed around 1460, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was abandoned less than 100 years later. It is likely that most of its inhabitants were wiped out by smallpox before the Spanish conquistadores arrived. Hiram Bingham, the credited discoverer of the site, along with several others, originally hypothesized that the citadel was the traditional birthplace of the Inca people or the spiritual center of the "Virgins of the Suns".

The Citadel Another theory maintains that Machu Picchu was Inca "llacta": a settlement built to control the economy of the conquered regions. It may also have been built as a prison for a select few who had committed heinous crimes against Inca society. Research conducted by scholars, such as John Rowe and Richard Burger, has convinced most archaeologists that rather than a defensive retreat, Machu Picchu was an estate of the Inca emperor, Pachacuti. In addition, Johan Reinhard presented evidence that the site was selected based on its position relative to sacred landscape features. One such example is its mountains, which are purported to be in alignment with key astronomical events. Although the citadel is located only about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Cusco, the Inca capital, it was never found and consequently not plundered and destroyed by the Spanish, as was the case with many other Inca sites. Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew over the site, and few knew of its existence. On July 24, 1911, Machu Picchu was brought to the attention of scholars by Hiram Bingham, an American historian then employed as a lecturer at Yale University.

He was led there by locals who frequented the site. Bingham undertook archaeological studies and completed a survey of the area. Bingham coined the name "The Lost City of the Incas", which was the title of his first book. He never gave any credit to those who led him to Machu Picchu, mentioning only "local rumor" as his guide. Bingham had been searching for the city of Vitcos, the last Inca refuge and spot of resistance during the Spanish conquest of Peru. In 1911, after years of previous trips and explorations around the zone, he was led to the citadel by Quechuans. These people were living in Machu Picchu, in the original Inca infrastructure. Even though most of the original inhabitants had died within a century of the city's construction, a small number of families survived so by the time the site was 'discovered' in 1911, there were still mummies (mostly women) in Machu Picchu and some families still living on the site. Bingham made several more trips and conducted excavations on the site through 1915. He wrote a number of books and articles about the discovery of Machu Picchu in his lifetime.

Simone Waisbard, a long-time researcher of Cusco, claims that Enrique Palma, Gabino Sanchez, and Agustin Lizarraga left their names engraved on one of the rocks at Machu Picchu on July 14, 1901. This would mean that they 'discovered' it long before Bingham did in 1911. Likewise, in 1904, an engineer named Franklin supposedly spotted the ruins from a distant mountain. He told Thomas Paine, an English Plymouth Brethren Christian missionary living in the region, about the site, Paine's family members claim. In 1906, Paine and another fellow missionary named Stuart E McNairn (1867-1956) supposedly climbed up to the ruins. In 1913, the site received significant publicity after the National Geographic Society devoted their entire April issue to Machu Picchu. In 1981 an area of 325.92 square kilometers surrounding Machu Picchu was declared a "Historical Sanctuary" of Peru. In addition to the ruins, this area includes a large portion of the regional landscape, rich with flora and fauna.

Machu Picchu was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as "an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization". On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was voted as one of New Open World Corporation's New Seven Wonders of the World. As a result of environmental degradation resulting from the impacts of tourism, uncontrolled development in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes (including a poorly-sited tram to ease visitor access), and the construction of a bridge across the Vilcanota River in defiance of a court order and government protests (which would most likely bring even more tourists to the site), the World Monuments Fund placed Machu Picchu on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world. Location Machu Picchu is 70 kilometers northwest of Cusco, on the crest of the mountain Machu Picchu, located about 2,350 meters (7,710 ft) above sea level. It is one of the most important archaeological centers in South America and the most visited tourist attraction in Peru.

From the top, at the cliff of Machu Picchu, there is a vertical rock face of 600 meters ending at the foot of the Urubamba River. The location of the city was a military secret because its deep precipices and mountains were an excellent natural defense. The Inca Bridge, an Inca rope bridge across the Urubamba River in the Pongo de Mainique, provided a secret entrance for the Inca army. Another Inca bridge to the west of Machu Picchu, the trunk bridge, has a section across a cliff face with a 6 metres (20 ft) gap in it which could be bridged by two tree trunks. If the trees were removed, it would leave a 570 metres (1,900 ft) fall to the base of the cliffs to discourage invaders. It is above Urubamba Valley. The city sits in a saddle between two mountains, with a commanding view down two valleys and a nearly impassable mountain at its back. It has a water supply from springs that cannot easily be blocked, and enough land to grow food for about four times as many people as actually lived there.

The hillsides leading to it have been terraced, not only to provide more farmland to grow crops, but to steepen the slopes which invaders would have to ascend. There are two high-altitude routes from Machu Picchu across the mountains back to Cuzco, one through the sun gate, and the other across the Inca bridge. Both could easily be blocked if invaders should approach along them. Regardless of its ultimate purpose, it is in a highly defendable position. Architecture Most of the construction in Machu Picchu uses the classic Inca architectural style of polished dry-stone walls of regular shape. The Incas were masters of this technique, called ashlar , in which blocks of stone are cut to fit together tightly without mortar. The Incas were among the best stone masons the world has seen, and many junctions in the central city are so perfect that not even a knife fits between the stones. Other Inca buildings have been built using mortar, but by Inca standards that was quick, shoddy construction. Peru is a highly seismic land, and mortar-free construction was more earthquake-resistant than using mortar. Inca walls show numerous subtle design details that would prevent them from collapsing in an earthquake.

Doors and windows are trapezoidal and tilt inward from bottom to top, corners are usually rounded, inside corners often incline slightly into the rooms, and "L" shaped blocks are often used to tie outside corners together. Walls do not rise straight from top to bottom but are offset slightly from row to row. As a result, Machu Picchu is a city that has stood up well to earthquakes over the years. The Incas never used the wheel in any practical manner. How they moved and placed enormous blocks of stones is a mystery, although the general belief is that they used hundreds of men to push the stones up inclined planes. A few of the stones still have knobs on them that could have been used to lever them into position. After they were placed, the Incas would have sanded the knobs away. The space is composed of 140 constructions including temples, sanctuaries, parks and residences (houses with thatched roofs). There are more than one hundred flights of stone steps - often completely carved from a single block of granite - and a great number of water fountains, interconnected by channels and water-drainages perforated in the rock, designed for the original irrigation system.

Evidence has been found to suggest that the irrigation system was used to carry water from a holy spring to each of the houses in turn. According to archaeologists, the urban sector of Machu Picchu was divided into three great districts: the Sacred District, the Popular District, to the south, and the District of the Priests and the Nobility. Temple of the Sun Located in the first zone are the primary archaeological treasures: the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. These were dedicated to Inti, their sun god and greatest deity. The Popular District, or Residential District, is the place where the lower class people lived. It includes storage buildings and simple houses to live in. In the royalty area, a sector existed for the nobility: a group of houses located in rows over a slope; the residence of the Amautas (wise persons) was characterized by its reddish walls, and the zone of the Nustas (princesses) had trapezoid-shaped rooms. The Monumental Mausoleum is a carved statue with a vaulted interior and carved drawings. It was used for rites or sacrifices.

Inca Trail As part of their road system, the Inca built a road to Machu Picchu. Today, tens of thousands of tourists walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu each year, acclimatizing at Cusco before starting on a two- to four-day journey on foot from the Urubamba valley up through the Andes mountain range. Intihuatana Stone Shamanic legends say that if you're a sensitive person and you rub your forehead against the stone you will see the spirit world. The Intihuatana stone is one of the many ritual stones in South America. They are arranged so they point directly at the sun during the winter solstice. The Spanish did not find Machu Picchu until the 20th century so the Intihuatana Stone was not destroyed like many other ritual stones. It is also called "The Hitching Point of the Sun" because it was supposed to hold the sun in its place. At midday on March 21st and September 21st the sun stands almost above the pillar creating no shadow at all. It is (as they said before) believed to be an astronomic clock built by the Incas.

The Intihuatana Stone was damaged in September 2000 when a 450 kg (1,000-pound) crane fell onto it, breaking off a piece of stone the size of a ballpoint pen. In the 1980s, a large rock from Machu Picchu's central plaza was moved to a different location in order to create a helicopter landing zone. Helicopter landings were forbidden in the 1990s. Reports circulated in February 2008 that a company, Helicusco, was able to make tourist flights over Machu Picchu, but the situation is unclear. Concerns Over Tourism Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As Peru's most visited tourist attraction and major revenue generator, it is continually threatened by economic and commercial forces. In the late 1990s, the Peruvian government granted concessions to allow the construction of a cable car to the ruins and development of a luxury hotel, including a tourist complex with boutiques and restaurants. These plans were met with protests from scientists, academics and the Peruvian public, worried that the greater numbers of visitors would pose tremendous physical burdens on the ruins.

A growing number of people visit Machu Picchu (400,000 in 2003). For this reason, there were protests against a plan to build a further bridge to the site and a no-fly zone exists in the area. UNESCO is considering putting Machu Picchu on its list of endangered World Heritage Sites. Google Videos Using ancient DNA, researchers unravel the mystery of Machu Picchu PhysOrg - October 1, 2015 The Inca built the site's 15th-century ruins without mortar, fitting the blocks of stone so tightly together that you still cannot fit a piece of paper between them. The design included steeped, agricultural terraces to boost planting space and protect against flooding. But despite its distinction as one of the most iconic and important archeological sites in the world, the origins of Machu Picchu remain a mystery. The Inca left no record of why they built the site or how they used it before it was abandoned in the early 16th century. One thing that makes Machu Picchu so interesting is the idea that actually the population buried there doesn't reflect just a local population.

Mysterious statue once stood at Machu Picchu MSNBC - July 25, 2011 A mysterious stone statue, possibly the portrait of the great Inca emperor Pachacuti, once stood in Machu Picchu, according to archival research. Likely placed against a round stone wall on one of Machu Picchu's terraces, the statue had already disappeared by the time American explorer Hiram Bingham climbed the steep jungle slope to be faced with an archaeological wonder exactly a century ago on July 24, 1911. Bingham, who has been credited as one possible inspiration for the "Indiana Jones" character, saw "a remarkably large and well-preserved abandoned city " perched some 8,000 feet in the clouds "in a wonderfully picturesque position," he wrote in the March 26, 1914, issue of Nature. Machu Picchu Is Mini Re-creation of a Mythic Landscape? National Geographic - June 15, 2009 Peru's Machu Picchu was an Inca pilgrimage site and a scaled-down version of a mythic landscape, according to a controversial new study.

The finding challenges the conventional view that Machu Picchu was a royal estate of the Inca ruler Pachacuti, who built it around A.D. 1460. 'Lost city of the Incas' was not a true city NBC - June 10, 2009 Machu Picchu, the "lost city of the Incas," was not a true city but rather a pilgrimage center symbolically connected to the Andean vision of the cosmos, an Italian study has concluded. According to Giulio Magli, professor of archaeoastronomy at Milan's Polytechnic University, Machu Picchu was the ideal counterpart of the Island of Sun, a rocky islet in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. This island had a very important sanctuary which was a destination of pilgrimage. An apparently insignificant rock was believed to be the place of birth of the sun, and therefore of the Inca civilization.

Inca Elite Imported Diverse "Staff" to Run Machu Picchu National Geographic - October 28, 2008 Inca nobility at Machu Picchu relied on special, permanent servants from the far corners of the empire to manage the royal estate, according to a new study of human skeletons found buried at the site. Machu Picchu sits high in the Peruvian Andes about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of the former Inca capital of Cusco. Royal retainers, known as yanacona, may have been brought to the site from as far away as South America's Pacific Coast, the northern highlands, and the area around Lake Titicaca near Peru's border with Bolivia, the study says. Determining the geographic origins of yanacona may help researchers better understand how the Inca practice of paying tributes with labor helped shape the empire's social classes.

Rare Mass Tombs Discovered Near Machu Picchu National Geographic - September 16, 2008 Eighty skeletons and stockpiles of textiles found in caves near the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu may shed light on the role that the so-called lost city of the Inca played as a regional center of trade and power, scientists say. Researchers found the artifacts and remains at two sites within the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park in southeastern Peru, said Fernando Astete, head of the park. The remains, most of which were found in May 2008 at a site called Salapunku, probably date to 500 to 550 years ago, said Francisco Huarcaya, the site's lead researcher. Due to extensive looting, however, as much as 75 percent of the fabrics found wrapped around the remains are in "bad shape," Huarcaya said.

Lost Incan City of Machu Picchu: 100 Years after Discovery by ‘Indiana Jones’ Lost Incan City of Machu Picchu: 100 Years after Discovery by ‘Indiana Jones’ 80 July 8th, 2011 Permalink Peru is celebrating 100 years since the rediscovery of Machu Picchu by Yale professor Hiram Bingham III. On July 24, 1911, the American, who some believe was later the “model” for Indiana Jones, stumbled upon jungle-and-vine-coated ruins during an expedition to find an ancient Inca Empire in the Andes mountains. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. In 2007, it was crowned as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World via a worldwide Internet vote.

To mark the Machu Picchu centennial celebration, here is a collection of pictures from the “Lost City of the Incas.” [46 Photos] Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Early morning in wonderful Machu Picchu, a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. Most archaeologists think Machu Picchu was built around AD 1400 as “an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti” and is often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas.” It is probably the most familiar icon of the Inca World. Around the time of the Spanish Conquest in 1572, the Incas abandoned their empire and the Peruvian jungle swallowed Machu Picchu. It wasn’t rediscovered until 1911 by American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham. There are about 140 structures or features, ranging from temples, to sanctuaries, parks, and residences, with more than 100 flights of stone steps carved from a single block of granite.

Photo #1 by Pedro Szekely Machu Picchu’s sunset panorama. Like many explorers, Bingham wasn’t sure what he had discovered. He wrote about stumbling upon Machu Picchu in a 1913 Harper’s Monthly article, “Suddenly we found ourselves in the midst of a jungle-covered maze of small and large walls, the ruins of buildings made of blocks of white granite, most carefully cut and beautifully fitted together without cement. Surprise followed surprise until we came to the realization that we were in the midst of as wonderful ruins as any ever found in Peru.” Bingham added, “Yet so far as I have been able to discover, there is no reference in the Spanish chronicles to Machu Picchu. It is possible that not even the conquistadors ever saw this wonderful place.” Photo #2 by Martin St-Amant Meet Hiram Bingham III, aka Indiana Jones. See the resemblance? The year is 1911 as Bingham is standing atop ruins at Machu Picchu in Peru. This photo came from a hand-colored glass slide taken by Harry Ward Foote. Professor Foote was a Yale Ph.D. who served as the expedition collector and naturalist on Bingham’s expeditions to Peru.

Photo #3 by Harry Ward Foote via Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database The Inca Bridge, near Machu Picchu. Photo #4 by Martin St-Amant A few ruined buildings and structural terraces remain on Wayna Picchu, the summit often seen behind Machu Picchu. Photo #5 by Sascha Wenninger Wayna Picchu viewed from Machu Picchu’s access gate. The Incas were masters of the ashlar technique of building. They cut blocks of stone that fit together tightly without using mortar. Many junctions in the central city are so perfectly cut and constructed that not even a blade of grass fits between the stones. By not using mortar, the buildings are able to withstand earthquakes. Photo #6 by Martin St-Amant Rainbow over the Andes and Machu Picchu. Photo #7 by Thomas Quine An odd photo to be sure, but the photographer explained. “This skull was deformed by binding wood to the skull of a new born baby, a common Inca practice. Yucay valley, Peru. There have been movies and TV specials that have suggested it was an alien skull….LOL.” Photo #8 by Dennis Jarvis Tourists on Incan terraces.

The ruins of Machu Picchu are divided into two main sections, Urban and Agricultural Sectors which are divided by a wall. The Agricultural Sector is further subdivided into Upper and Lower sectors, while the Urban Sector is split into East and West sectors, and further separated by a wide plaza. Photo #9 by Samuel Renard The photographer wrote, “We were there measuring astronomical alignments during sunrise on the solstice. It was every bit as awesome as it sounds, and considerably awesomer than this photo conveys.” Photo #10 by dann toliver Machu Picchu is surrounded by these beautiful pink orchids. Photo #12 by Matt Riggott Llactapata, a ruined settlement along the Inca trail in Peru. Photo #13 by Bcasterline A llama sits atop one of the terraces of Machu Picchu, Peru, admiring the view. Photo #14 by Roger Nelson A Mountain Caracara taking off from a wall at the Lost City of the Incas. Photo #15 by Ville Miettinen The photographer noted, “This is from the paths through the small patch of cloud forest behind the lodge we stayed at near the base of Machu Picchu.

All of the Inkaterra lodges we stayed at were very well integrated with their native environments, and this was not exception. Not shown: the dozens of hummingbirds and dozens more orchid species thriving on their grounds.” Photo #16 by icelight This llama seems to be posing for a picture. Photo #18 by Robert Luna Temple of the Sun. According to archaeologists (and Wikipedia), the urban sector of Machu Picchu was divided into three great districts: the Sacred District, the Popular District to the south, and the District of the Priests and the Nobility. Located in the first zone are the primary archaeological treasures: the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. These were dedicated to Inti, their sun god and greatest deity. Photo #19 by Fabricio GuzmÃ¡n Terraces, tourists and a llama. Photo #20 by Martin St-Amant The photographer wrote, “Our guide to Machu Picchu demonstrates what are believed to be stocks to constrain prisoners.” Photo #21 by Dan Lundberg These stairs lead to the “Popular District” which is also called the “Residential District.” It was where the lower-class people lived.

It includes storage buildings and simple houses. There is also a royalty area which was meant for the nobility; that group of houses are located in rows over a slope. Houses for the Amautas (wise persons) was characterized by its reddish walls, while the zone of the Ã‘ustas (princesses) had trapezoid-shaped rooms. Photo #22 by Roger Nelson 1911 Bingham expedition to Machu Picchu in Peru, taken from a series of hand-colored glass slides. At top left is the explorers and crew on the road along the Urubamba River. The top right and lower left are of the expedition crew trekking through the overgrown jungles of Peru. On the lower right is a photo of the ruins before clearing away the vegetation as Bingham first encountered Machu Picchu. Photos in #23 by Harry Ward Foote via Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database Do ghosts of Incas roam in the foggy ruins? Photo #24 by ckmck The interior of a partially restored Inca building that features trapezoidal windows. The Inca designed walls to help protect them against damage and from collapsing in an earthquake.

Doors and windows have this trapezoidal design and and tilt inward from bottom to top. The corners are usually rounded, while inside corners often incline slightly into the rooms. “L”-shaped blocks were used to tie outside corners of the structure together. These walls do not rise straight from bottom to top, but are offset slightly from row to row. Photo #25 by Martin St-Amant This is by far the most popular of the Inca trails for trekking. It’s called the Capaq Nan trail, which leads from the city of Cusco to the so-called “Lost City of the Incas.” Bingham remarked on the fact that Machu Picchu is only a 5 day hike from Cusco. You can still make that trip if you are daring and willing to hike. You should be in good shape to take the Incan Trail and plan on 3 – 6 days for your journey.

Photo #26 by Pajaro From Yale Peruvian Expedition these glass slides represent (from left to right): Indigenous Peruvians, Bingham atop ruins after clearing the overgrowth at Machu Picchu, Harry Ward Foote who accompanied Hiram Bingham and acted as photographer for expedition, Indians and lamas in front of ruins, Transport for the expedition crew crossing a river on downed trees while carrying packs. Photos in #27 by Harry Ward Foote via Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database The photographer pointed out, “For all the attention paid to the awesome construction of the city itself, not enough credit is given to the amount of work it took just to insure Machu Picchu didn’t instantly slide off of its precarious perch. This system of terraces serve as reinforcement, holding the bulk of the city thousands of feet above the valley floor. Dramatically they appear to suddenly end, the depths leaving the viewer unsupported high above the steep Andean cliffs.” Photo #28 by icelight Apparently all creatures enjoy the views. Photo #30 by Marrovi Small water canal sweeping through the ruins.

The 140 structures were interconnected by channels; water-drains perforated in the rock were designed for the original irrigation system. Evidence implies that the irrigation system was used to carry water from a holy spring to each of the houses. The Inca Empire was amazing. Photo #31 by Martin St-Amant The photographer wrote, “Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, this outstanding Sanctuary rises above 2400 meters sea level. Also known as The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu is considered to be one of the most important and visited destinations in South America.” Photo #32 by Danielle Pereira View of Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu, showing the Hiram Bingham Highway used by tour buses to and from the town of Aguas Calientes. Photo #33 by Martin St-Amant Ruins in the Lost City.

The photographer remarked, “Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located 2430 metres (7970 ft) above sea level.” Photo #34 by nwhitford According to the photographer, “Making your way down from the impressive Inca ruins of Phuyu Pata Marca is hard on the knees, but the sight of an impressive rainbow over the mountains is a welcome distraction. Inca Trail, near Huinay Huayna, Peru.” Photo #35 by Jayegirl99 Panorama of the ruins taken on a cloudy day. Mornings are often foggy as the Lost City is surrounded by a cloud-forest high in the Andes Mountains. Photo #36 by Martin St-Amant Machu Picchu is situated above a loop of the Urubamba River, which surrounds the site on three sides, with cliffs dropping vertically for 450 metres (1,480 ft) to the river at their base.

Photo #37 by Alexson Scheppa Peisino After “discovering” the ruins, Bingham believed the complex was the traditional birthplace of the Incan “Virgins of the Suns” which was an elite group who took a vow of chastity. Their high priestess was of noble blood. But after human remains were found at Machu Picchu that proved not all the people were women, the “Virgins of the Suns” theory was disproved. Photo #38 by refractor The old mountain, Machu Picchu, as seen from the young mountain, Huayna Picchu. Photo #39 by HÃ¥kan Svensson The photographer said this was where they crossed the Apurimac River, located at 1750 meters (over 5,741 feet) above sea level.

According to the legend, the name Apurimac means ‘talking river’ because during rainy seasons, “a great amout of water drags the rocks which hit one another and produce a sound pretty much alike a human conversation.” Photo #40 by Danielle Pereira Machu Picchu Lost City of the Incas - YouTube Machu Picchu Lost City of the Incas Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Nov 27, 2015 Machu Picchu Lost City of the Incas Machu Picchu is an old Inca site located in the mountains of Peru, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco. Archaeologists think that Machu Picchu was built as a home for the emperor of the Incas, a civilization that lived there before Columbus discovered America. The site is often called the Lost City of the Incas. The Spanish conquistadors started conquering the Inca in the 16 th century .

But history tells us that they did not know anything about the historic site of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was not known to the outside world until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered the site in 1911. Since then a large part of the settlement has been restored and today, Machu Picchu attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world. In 1983 it became a UNESCO World Heritage site . Travelling to Machu Picchu is no easy deal .Most visitors take the plane to the Peruvian capital Lima and then to Cusco, a small town in the Andes, once the capital of the Inca empire . There they get used to the altitude of 3,500 meters. From Cusco many tourists take the train to Machu Picchu, although some very tough ones go up the Inca Trail , which takes about three or four days. When going on foot you must make reservations because Peruvian authorities only allow a certain number of visitors on the trail every day. Once you get there Machu Picchu often shows the average tourist a mystic image. The site is situated on top of a high hill with steep slopes dropping to the valleys below.

The mountains are often covered in fog and clouds. The ruins of Machu Picchu are divided into two sections. In the agricultural area visitors can see how the Inca grew their crops and worked on their land. In the urban section you can see the Temple of the Sun and other buildings where people lived and worshipped their gods. Many tourists rush through Machu Picchu in a day and catch the last train back to Cusco, but some people take their time and spend the night in Aguas Calientes, the nearest town, only 6 kilometres away. Those who are in good physical shape can go on hiking trips in the nearby mountains and visit smaller peaks in the area. Although Machu Picchu is Peru’s main tourist attraction the government is worried by almost one million tourists who visit the Andean fortress every year. Archaeologists are afraid that the increasing number of tourists will damage the ruins and let the citadel slide down the steep mountains as the soil gives way . Category Phenomenon - the Civilization pages- the Incas - Machu Picchu MACHU PICCHU The legendary 'Lost City of Machu Picchu' is without a doubt the most important tourist attraction in Peru and one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites.

Built by the Incas on the summit of "Machu Picchu" (Old Peak), overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba river in a semi-tropical area 120 Km. (75 miles) from the city of Cusco at 7,000 feet above sea level. It sits on a mountain site of extraordinary beauty, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, Machu Picchu was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height, with its giant walls, terraces and ramps, which appear as though they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting on the eastern slope of the Andes encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of species. The whole archaeological complex covers approximately 5 square kms. It is situated in the high jungle. Its climate is semi-tropical, warm and humid. TRANSPORTATION TO MACHU PICCHU There are two routes leading to Machu Picchu: By rail - the most rapid and comfortable - following the course of the Urubamba River On foot - following the traditional and true route of entry, best known as the Inka Trail.

A minimum of one whole day is needed to visit these ruins and upon arrival there, one should have approximately 2 hours to go over the main part and have lunch at the hotel on your return, before taking the mini-bus anew down to the Puente Ruinas Station (2.30 pm). The traveler who has more time to spare may stay overnight at the Machu Picchu Ruinas Hotel The Citadel Machu Picchu is also one of the Inca's best kept secrets, since they did not left written records and Spanish chronicles make no mention of the citadel, it remains a mystery. Discovered only in 1911 by the American Yale professor Hiram Bingham. The building style is "late imperial Inca" thought to have been a sanctuary or temple inhabited by high priests and the "Virgins of the Sun" (chosen women). Excavations revealed that of the 135 skeletons found,109 were women. No signs of post Conquest occupation were unearthed.

The original entrance to the complex is on the southwestern side of the citadel at the end of the Inca Trail, a short walk away from "Intipunko " (Sun Gate), the ancient final check point to Machu Picchu. The present entrance on the southeastern side leads to the agricultural section. The complex can be divided in three distinct sections: Agricultural, Urban, and Religious. The agricultural area consists of a series of terraces and irrigation channels that serve dual purpose, as cultivation platforms making it self sustained, and as retention walls to avoid erosion. Some smaller buildings next to large terraces are part of this section and thought to have served as lookout posts. The urban section starts at the wall that separates it from the agricultural area, this group of buildings were constructed on the ridge that descends abruptly to the Urubamba valley. In the southern part of this section are found a series of niches carved on rock known as "the jail" with elements that include man size niches, stone rings would have served to hold the prisoner's arms, and underground dungeons.

The group of refined structures next to "the jail" is known as the "intellectuals' quarters", with tall walls, nooks, and windows built with reddish stone are considered to have been accommodations for the Amautas (high ranked teachers). One of the buildings has several circular holes carved on the rock floor named the "mortar room" believed to have been used for preparation of dyes. The largest urban section in Machu Picchu located on the north western part, is reached by a 67 steps staircase and involves a group of buildings not as finely constructed as other parts of the complex. The central plaza that separates the religious from the urban section, has a great rock in the center. The religious section contains splendid architecture an masonry work, one of the most important and enigmatic is probably the Intihuatana shrine, this block of granite was presumably used to make astronomical observations. Descending the hill next to this site is the Great Central Temple, a three walled building with fine stonework and an attached smaller temple called the "Sacristy".

Next to this structure is another three walled building, known as the 'Temple of the Three Windows', so called because of the trapezoidal openings on the east wall. Directly across is the Royal sector, with ample buildings typical of Inca royalty. A very important structure in this section is the "Temple of the Sun", a: circular tower with the best stonework of Machu Picchu. Its base forms a cavern known as the Royal Tomb. Recent studies show that the actual purpose was for astronomical observance. Huayna Picchu, young peak, is as much a part of the site as the buildings of the citadel, the towering granite peak overlooks Machu Picchu to the North with a steep well preserved original Inca path, well worth the one hour climb for an astounding view of the citadel and the entire valley. 'The Temple of the Moon', located halfway down in an underground chamber on the north side of the Huayna Picchu, is a fairly recent discovery. The access to this site is rather difficult and diverges left from the main trail. It contains finely carved structures on large boulders. The climb to the top takes about three hours.

THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE Only from the nearby hilltop observatory of Intipunku can you realize the full extent of Machu Picchu's colossal conception. The citadel is a stupendous achievement- in urban planning, civil engineering, architecture and stonemasonry. Who built this symphony in stone, this vast complex of buildings so well constructed that even five centuries in the inexorable grip of the Peruvian jungle has deprived them only of their thatch and reed roofs? The architectural forms are unmistakably characteristic of the Incas but beyond that its origins are veiled in a mystery as thick as the early morning mist swirling around its craggy fastness. At any moment, it seems, a gold-encrusted and befeathered Inca warrior will materialize between the curiously sloping door jambs. The enigmatic Incas knew neither the wheel nor any written language, but forged an empire stretching 3,680km (2,300mi) along the mighty Andean heights. Machu Picchu was a complex of temples, palaces and observatories and was the home of the Inca ruling classes.

From here, high priests made observations and calculations enabling them to chart the heavens - a knowledge which gave them both religious authority and temporal power. THE FALL OF MACHU PICCHU Hiram Gingham found many objects of stone, bronze, ceramic and obsidian, but no gold or silver. There should have been fabulous riches of these metals comparable to those found at the 'Temple of the Sun' in Cuzco where even the garden contained lifesize gold replicas of maize and other plants. It is unlikely the Spaniards stole the gold and silver, for it seems they never found Machu Picchu. They always took great pains to visit every inhabited settlement in Peru and record it in detail before relieving it of everything worth taking. But there is not a single reference to Machu Picchu in the Spaniards' chronicles. The Peruvian scholar Dr Victor Angles Vargas thinks the city became depopulated toward the end of the 15th century before the Spaniards arrived. What brought this about is one of the deepest enigmas surrounding this sacred site. Wars between rival Inca tribes were common and blood, often resulting in the annihilation of whole communities.

When the Inca ruler, Wayna Capac, defeated the tribe of the Caranques, for example, he ordered the execution of all the remaining members. The citizens of Machu Picchu may well have suffered such a fate. Another possibility is that a novice priest defiled one of the sacred Virgins of the Sun. Garcilaso de Vega, the son of a Spaniard and an Inca princess, wrote exhaustive commentaries on Inca customs. According to him, anyone found guilty of sexually violating an 'ajilla' was not only put to death himself, but servants, relatives and neighbors, inhabitants of the same town and their cattle were all killed. No one was left . . . The place was damned and excommunicated so that no one could find it, not even the animals! Was this, then, the fate of the inhabitants of Machu Picchu? Also epidemics are common enough even in modern times - in the 1940s malaria decimated the population of an area near Machu Picchu. And the skeleton of a rich woman found by Hiram Gingham showed she had suffered from syphilis and was unlikely to have been alone in this.

Perhaps the city was ravaged by a plague so terrible it was permanently quarantined by the authorities. Theories show that it could have been a country estate of Pachacuti, proving its existence in mud 15th century. Some think that it was abandoned by the Incas before Spanish conquest, yet no one knows why. Overlooked by conquistadors, it was supposedly untouched until 1911. EXTRATERRESTRIAL LINK Machu Picchu's unusual patterns are best viewed from the sky. Many believe it to be a landing strip for extraterrestrials. Its celestial observatory depicts many patterns found on petroglyphs throughout the world. Machu Picchu | Go Travel Machu Picchu Tags: Machu Picchu , Peru , South America The ancient Inca settlement of Machu Picchu lies high in the Peruvian Andes. The purpose of this city, perched on a mountain ridge 2,430 m above sea level, is unknown, and thus it is often called the “Lost City of the Incas”. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. Since its discovery in 1911, Machu Picchu has fascinated archeologists.

It was never discovered by the 15th-century Spanish conquistadors, and so escaped destruction, although it was deserted by its Inca residents towards the end of the 16th century. At Machu Picchu, visitors can see original dry stone walls and terraces as well as reconstructed buildings. Look out for the incredible stonework on the Temple of the Sun, which is close to the city’s summit. Although it is possible to reach the site by train or bus, the most spectacular approach to Machu Picchu is gained by hiking the Inca Trail, as hikers arrive through the impressive Sun Gate. Travelers following the Inca Trail will be rewarded by beautiful scenery and have the opportunity to take in other fascinating Inca ruins during their journey. Once you reach Machu Picchu, the views are spectacular. From this spectacular vantage point, visitors can look down into the valleys, which are scattered with tiny villages and farms. Plant life here is abundant, with more than 90 species of orchids, and wild animals such as butterflies, tankas, and wildcats also abound. Lucky visitors may even catch a glimpse of the reclusive spectacled bear.

To improve your chance of a sighting, hike to the Moon Temple through the thick mountain forest. This secluded site also offers wonderful views of the Machu Picchu site. There is a hotel at the site, the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, which offers some suites with views of the ruins. Alternatively, you can stay in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes. Our Location Longwood

Question: Often called 'The Lost City of the Incas', the 15th century ruins of Machu Picchu are in which country?
Answer: Peru