World Heritage Sites are distinctive locations with extraordinary cultural or physical importance that may be located geographically and historically. A World Heritage Site could be, for instance, a mountainous region, a desert, an island, a lake or ocean, a building, a city, a monument, or any wild zone. The Citadel of Machu Picchu is one of these significant heritage sites. Some think it was a holy place used for religious rituals, while several others believe it was constructed as a defensive castle to keep out enemies and other intruders. It is one of the most attractive destinations in the world and is recognized as the major attraction in Peru. Let’s get to know more about Machu Picchu in this article.
It is said that Machu Pichu was constructed over a very long period of 30 years which involved almost 500 workers to construct it. The city was constructed with the help of hundreds of workers without the use of any machinery or tools. They used to carry all three required materials and stones to the site for construction. The technique used by them is ashlar masonry, which included shaping the stones so that they fit with other stones. This is the most significant tangible monument of the Inca civilization and is one of the world’s finest artistic, architectural, and land use masterpieces.
Machu Picchu – Geographical Location:
In the word Machu Picchu, Machu means ‘old’ and Pichu means ‘mountain’. It is also known as a ‘lost city’ In the Andes Mountains, in central Peru, the Inca fortress city of Machu Picchu is situated in the Machupicchu District. 13.111 degrees near the equator is just where Machu Picchu is situated. It can also be spelled as Machupijchu. The engineers who constructed this city made it earthquake-resistant by using various techniques like ashlar and dancing rocks etc.
It is said to be the location of old Inca ruins and is situated approximately 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, within Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains, situated near the Amazon Basin. The prominent food crop in Machu Pichu was the maize crop and most of the food was imported from other states. This place is used for both relaxation and spiritual purposes. So, it was considered to be a sacred and divine place. It is well known for its culture and heritage.
It is a very well-planned city, as it was divided into two different sectors like the agricultural sector and the urban sector so that the city space can be used equally for both farming and grazing and also to maintain temples, shops as well as housing respectively. It is an Ancient fortress from the fifteenth century that is located on a mountainous crest of 2,430 meters which means (7,970 feet) above ocean level.
It is situated much above Sacred Valley, which would be (50 miles) from Cuzco and which is where the Urubamba River runs. At a height of 7,710 feet, it is positioned just above Urubamba River valley in a small valley between the sharp peaks named Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu, or “Old Peak” and “New Peak,” respectively. It is said that American explorer Hiram Bingham discover it in 1911. There are nearly 140 buildings constructed in that city and one of the famous and sacred stone structures called Intihuatana is found in Machu Pichu.
Machu Picchu – Climatic Conditions:
Because of its position, the climate is significantly more tropical and moderate. The climate is very unique and always cloudy and there is lush greenery everywhere surrounded by beautiful species and flowers. Llamas can be found grazing. The area of location is in the Selva Alta zone and includes a portion of a severely fragmented mountain range of the high Andes plateau that rises from the valley of the Urubamba River. The arable and pastoral farming area is almost visible in the Urubamba alluvial basin which has a very complex geographical area. It is a very amazing sight to behold.
Machu Picchu – Latitude and Longitude Coordinates Info:
The coordinates of Machu Picchu in Peru are -13.163068 latitude and -72.545128 longitude. Machu Picchu is indeed a historical site that may be found in the country of Peru at 13° 9′ 47.0448″ S and 72° 32′ 42.4608″ W.