Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel on a 2,430-meter mountain crest in southern Peru's Eastern Cordillera. It is 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco, in the Machupicchu District of the Urubamba Province, above the Sacred Valley. The Urubamba River runs through it, slicing through the Cordillera and forming a tropical mountain canyon.
According to most modern archaeologists, Machu Picchu was built as a private estate for Inca Emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). It is known as the "Lost City of the Incas" and is the most well-known symbol of Inca culture. According to historical research published in 2022, the Inca named the place Huayna Picchu because it is located on the lesser peak of the same name.
Machu Picchu was constructed in the Inca tradition, with polished dry-stone walls. The Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows are the three main constructions. The majority of the outlying structures have been restored to give visitors a clearer understanding of how they once looked. By 1976, 30% of Machu Picchu had been rebuilt, and the work is still ongoing.
In 1981, Machu Picchu was designated as a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary, and in 1983, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In a worldwide internet poll in 2007, Machu Picchu was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the number of tourists visiting Machu Pichu is very large, and it is considered as one of the most beautiful world heritage sites.
Location: Cusco Region, Peru
