Machu Picchu

Where is Machu Picchu? It is located in the Cusco Region of Peru, South America. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 Kilometres (50 mil) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Machu Picchu (Quechua machu pikchu means "old mountain") - the mysterious city of the Incas, built in the middle of the XV century. It is located about 100 km from the capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco is so secluded and tucked away in the Andes that he had not been able to reach the Spanish colonizers. Us about the city became known in 1911 by the American scholar Hiram Bingham of Yale.

Although in fairness it should be noted that the local people are always aware of Machu Picchu, but were slow to share information with outsiders.History of the discovery of this city is very interesting: the fact that Hiram Bingham was looking for a different city - legendary Vilkabambu - where, according to the legends of the Incas, were removed many of their treasures and mummies rulers during the conquest of the country by the Spaniards. Bingham was wandering through the mountains, hoping to find some trace of the city and on the way met a boy carrying a ceramic jug. Bingham, as a scientist specialist, immediately realized that the pitcher is not simple, and asked the boy where he got it. Adult residents avoided share their secrets with outsiders, but boy, the simple-minded way to have Bingham to Machu Picchu.

Engineering and architectural masterpiece Machu Picchu surprisingly fits into the landscape, so it is often referred to as the "city in the sky" or "city in the clouds." Triangular roofs of its buildings seem part of the landscape. An engineering and architectural masterpiece to build a city the builders had to have extensive knowledge of the topography, geology, astronomy and ecology: the construction of the natural slopes were used, and the technique of construction ensures the stability of buildings, even in the case of the rock slope of 40 * or in the event of an earthquake. Today the construction of Machu Picchu is incredible - the stones were transported from remote kamenolomen: Get down on the wet clay slopes, dragged through the logs, and then polished them so perfectly that even now in the gap junctions can not stick a knife blade!In 1983, is on the list of Monuments Heritage Site by UNESCO, and since 2007 - in the list of the new Wonders of the World.

Macchu Picchu is a fantastic spot for those who admitre history, architecture and mystery. There are hundreds of interesting tours that will make you see the lost city as it was seen by Incas.
You can check this site: www.perudiscover.com/MachuPicchu