Machu Picchu “The Lost City of the Incas”

Machu Picchu is holy city of incas it is located on the highest part of the eastern Andes of Peru, or more precisely, on the eastern slopes of the mountain chain above the Urubambe River and directly above the Aguas Calientes settlement at 2,350 meters above sea level Heights. Machu Picchu was hidden until 1911 when it was discovered by American Hiram Bingham. It seems that the city, which had been forgotten in the eastern rainforest for 400 years, had been abandoned even before the Inca empire had been conquered by the Spaniards. MAIN SOURCE

HISTORY
Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the Inca Empire, which dominated western South America in the 15th and 16th centuries. So probably Machu Picchu was built around 1450-1460. During its use as a royal estate, it is estimated that no more than 750 people lived there at a time, most people being support staff who lived there
permanently. 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.

HOW MACHU PICCHU IS “DISCOVERED”?
Machu Picchu is discovered by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in summer of 1911. Hiram Bingham and his small team arrived in Peru hoping to find Vilcabamba (last Inca stronghold to fall to the Spanish). 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”. 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,” what interested many of tourist to visit Machu Picchu. 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.

HOW IT LOOKS LIKE
Machu Picchu has an area of 32,500 hectares and is built in the traditional Inca style drywall. Archaeologists today claim that Machu Picchu was not a city in the classical sense of the word, because there were no remains of bureaucratic administration, trade or military forts. Most probably it was built as an imperial possession and a religious haven, or as a secret ceremonial town.

What is unique about Machu Picchu is the environment in which it is located. It is located on a hill in the middle of the lush vegetation that riverside rivers. In fact, there are three hills that make Machu Picchu: Huayna (Wayna) Pichu, Machu Picchu, and a hill where the remains of the settlement are located. This hill with remains today is called Machu Picchu, which is wrong, but accepted all over the world. Over Machu Picchu (original) it leads the "Inca Way" from Cusca, which lasts for a few days.

The city has two hundred buildings located on the terraces and arranged around the large central square. The quarters that are divided are narrow and elongated to maximize space utilization. The three main buildings are located in the so-called. "Sacred Quarter". There are also terraces outside the populated area that have soaking channels.

WONDER OF THE WORLD
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.

All photos are in 4K resolution and taken from video of Devin Graham. There is a little bit more photos of people and animals near Machu Picchu :)))

I hope you like it. For me this place is like heaven on earth, I would like to visit one day Machu Picchu. Old architecture, wonderful nature what else you need? Greetings from @amw (rocky7)