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Since
the discovery of
MACHU PICCHU
on the 24th of July, 1911, by North American Hiram
Bingham, it has been considered one of the world's greatest
architectural and archaeological monuments due to its
extraordinary magnificence and harmonious structure.
At 2,400 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l), in the province of
Urubamba, department of Cusco,
MACHU PICCHU
surprises us because of the way its stone constructions are
spread over a narrow and uneven mountain top, bordering a sheer
400 meter cliff drop to the Urubamba River
MACHU PICCHU
is a citadel shrouded in mystery, and to this day archaeologists
have not uncovered the history and purpose of this city of
stone, (There a few theories) The site has an area of about one
square kilometer, and stands in a region that the Incas
considered to be magical, due to the meeting of the Andes
Mountains with the mighty Amazon River.
Perhaps,
MACHU PICCHU’s
mystery may never be fully explained, so far, there are only
hypothesis and conjectures. For some, it may have been an
advance settlement for planned further expansions by the Incas.
Others believe
MACHU PICCHU
has been a monastery where young girls (acllas) were trained to
serve the Inca and the Willac Uno (High Priest). Support for
this theory comes from the fact that 135 bodies were discovered
while exploring the site, 109 were female.
The surprising perfection and beauty of
MACHU PICCHU's
walls, built by joining stone to stone without using any cement
or adhesive whatsoever, has led to many myths about how the city
was constructed.
It is said that a bird by the name of Kak'aqllu knew the formula
for softening rock by command, perhaps, of the ancient Inca
gods, had its tongue torn out. It is also said that there was a
magic plant which could dissolve and compress stone.
Nonetheless, mysteries and myths aside, the real attractiveness
of
MACHU PICCHU
lies in its squares, aqueducts and watchtowers, its
observatories and in its sun clock, evidence of the wisdom and
skill of the Andean city builders is amazing.
It is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site,
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