Machu Picchu is one of the world’s top wonders as declared on the basis of world-wide poll. People from all over the voted for this renowned site located in the country of Peru (Latin America). Situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley, Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian Inca site. It is also one of the most popular tourist sites in world. Machu Picchu has been granted status of one of the most endangered sites in the world by World Monuments Fund. It is said that original residents of this place died within 100 years of its establishment because of spread of small pox.
- Machu Picchu is located at a very high altitude of 2,400 meters (7,875 ft) above sea level. The erstwhile Inca Empire used this historical place as its proud symbol. That explains why this is also called as "The Lost City of the Incas".
- Built around 1460, but later on abandoned.
- Situated on a mountain ridge, Machu Picchu looks through Urubamba River.
- It was discovered by an American Historian named Hiram Bingham in 1911.
- 1981 saw declaration of Machu Picchu as a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary.
- UNESCO gave it the status of World Heritage Site in 1983.
- Machu Picchu is built of approximately 140 structures.
- The Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana and Room of the Three Windows constitute the primary buildings of the structure.
- Polished dry stone walls in the traditional Inca style have bene used to create the structure.
- National Geographic Society is credited to make this place popular by publishing one complete issue dedicating Machu Picchu in 1913.
- Machu Picchu is one of the most popular toiurist destinations in the world.
- Intihuatana stone is said to be built as a calendar or astronomical clock.
