Amazing Facts Of Machu Picchu:UNESCO World Heritage Site
Amazing Facts Of Machu Picchu:UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist destination in Peru.
A symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450AD, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres above sea level in the Cusco region of Peru. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley. This ancient city is the most familiar icon of the great Inca civilization. It is believed to have been built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti.
According to scholars, Machu Picchu was an ancient city built-in classical Inca style. It has construction elements that defy our very own engineering skills today. Archaeologists have been baffled by the fact that most of the junctions in the central city are so perfect that not even a blade of grass can fit between the stones.
Machu Picchu has three primary structured identified by archaeologists; the Inti Watana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows.
New Seven Wonders of the World
The ancient city’s property covers 32,592 hectares of mountain slopes, peaks and valleys.
Here, we present you amazing facts & images of the incredible Inca trail, the magical landscapes and Machu Picchu, take your time and enjoy these incredible images which have been photographed by those who have had the honor to visit one of the most incredible ancient cities of the world:
1. In the Quechua Indian language, “Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”
2. Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries.
3. The compound contains more than 100 separate flights of stairs. Most of the individual staircases were carved from one slab of stone.
4. It is believed that no wheels were used to transport these rocks up the mountain. Rather, it is thought that hundreds of men pushed the heavy rocks up the steep mountain side.
New Seven Wonders of the World
5. Many different theories exist about Machu Picchu’s purpose—a royal estate and a secret ceremonial center among them.
6. The Incas were some of the best masons in the world. The structures were so well built with a technique called ashlar (stones that are cut to fit together without mortar) that not even a knife blade can fit in between stones.
7. Machu Picchu was only known locally until Yale Professor Hiram Bingham re-discovered the site in 1911. His book, The Lost City of the Incas, was based on his findings.
8. A long-standing dispute between Peru and Yale University has existed over the artifacts collected by Bingham during his exploration of the site. Yale maintains that they own the items while Peru insists they were given on loan.
Amazing Facts Of Machu Picchu
9. Machu Picchu was an astronomical observatory, and its sacred Intihuatana stone accurately indicates the two equinoxes. Twice a year, the sun sits directly over the stone creating no shadow.
10. Machu Picchu was in a hidden location—invisible from below—and not found, making it one of the most well-preserved Inca cities and an archeological gem.
Amazing Facts Of Machu Picchu
11. Hiram Bingham was the first Westerner who first led up the slopes to the then-overgrown ruins.
12. The strongest possible contender is German engineer Augusto Berns who may have been to the site 40 years prior to the American.
13. When Bingham endeavoured to reclaim the site from the encroaching jungle he uncovered a treasure trove of artefacts that he took with him to Yale University, including mummies, bones, ceramics and precious metals. The Peruvian government has long petitioned the university for their repatriation and in 2008 revised the estimated number of pieces from 4,000 to over 40,000.
Amazing Facts Of Machu Picchu
14. The most popular way to approach the site is the Inca Trail trek. This three-day trek reaches a lung-squeezing height of 4,214 metres at its highest and there are several sections of original Inca stone paths along the way. Due to fears of erosion the government limits the number of people embarking on the trek to 500, which includes the compulsory, locally-hired porters
15. Each year there is a race along the Inca Trail, which at 26 miles is pretty much a marathon. The current record is three hours and 26 minutes.
16. Many of the porters will sleep with a shiny metal object or mirror beneath them when on the trail. They believe it deflects spirits coming up through the earth and whisking them away.
17. A popular ambition on the trek is to arrive at the fabled Sun Gate in time for sunrise. However this is more of a sun-ruse as high mountains block most the view at sunrise.
18. At the ruins themselves, there are rules of entrance. You may not enter dressed in the traditional costume of another country. So anyone thinking of going dressed in your kilt and sporran, your kimono, should think again.
