A fortress city of the ancient Incas, in a high saddle between two peaks circa 50 miles (80 km) NW of Cuzco, Peru. The extraordinary pre-Columbian ruin, 5 sq. Miles (18 sq. Km.) of terraced stonework link by 3,000 steps; it was virtually intact when discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911
Machu Picchu
Quick Facts
The Machu Picchu archaeological complex is located in the department of Cuzco, in the Urubamba province and district of Machu Picchu. It is perched on the eastern slopes of the Vilcanota mountain range, a chain of mountains curtailed by the Apurimac and Urubamba Rivers
Machu Picchu is located at a height of 2,350 meters (7,710 feet) above sea level (main square).
Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machu Picchu includes pisonayes, q'eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of orchids.
Creatures found in the area include the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or "tunqui", tankas, wildcats and an impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique in the region.
The citadel is divided into two sectors: the agricultural (terracing) and the urban, where there are main squares, temples, palaces, storehouses, workshops, stairways, cables and water fountains which run through both sectors, which measure 20 and 10 hectares respectively.
Hiram Bingham discovered the lost city in 1911.
The architectural design was based on Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire.
The reason for the site's abandonment is not known but lack of water may have been a possible cause.
The Machu Picchu archaeological complex is located in the department of Cuzco, in the Urubamba province and district of Machu Picchu. It is perched on the eastern slopes of the Vilcanota mountain range, a chain of mountains curtailed by the Apurimac and Urubamba Rivers
Machu Picchu is located at a height of 2,350 meters (7,710 feet) above sea level (main square).
Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machu Picchu includes pisonayes, q'eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of orchids.
Creatures found in the area include the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or "tunqui", tankas, wildcats and an impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique in the region.
The citadel is divided into two sectors: the agricultural (terracing) and the urban, where there are main squares, temples, palaces, storehouses, workshops, stairways, cables and water fountains which run through both sectors, which measure 20 and 10 hectares respectively.
Hiram Bingham discovered the lost city in 1911.
The architectural design was based on Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire.
The reason for the site's abandonment is not known but lack of water may have been a possible cause.