Machu Picchu

Long ago, people built a city on a mountain.

It is in a land called Peru. A king once lived there.

The people built strong walls with stones. They made steps on the hills to grow food.

These steps helped the soil stay in place. Many people visit this old place now. It is a very famous spot in the world.

Machu Picchu is a famous site in Peru. It sits on a mountain ridge.

The Inca people built it around 1450. Many think it was a home for a ruler named Pachacuti.

People lived there for about 80 years. They used dry-stone walls to build strong parts. These walls used stones that fit together perfectly.

Some special places include the Temple of the Sun. There is also a ritual stone called Intihuatana.

The people grew food on large steps called terraces.

These steps helped the soil stay on the mountain. They also helped water drain away during heavy rain. Most people living there were from different places. They brought animals like llamas and alpacas with them. Around 1530, the site was left behind. This happened during the Spanish conquest. For a long time, the jungle grew over it. In 1911, a man named Hiram Bingham III found it. Now, over 1.5 million people visit every year. It is one of the new wonders of the world.

Machu Picchu is a famous stone city in Peru. It sits high on a mountain ridge.

This place is in the Eastern Cordillera mountains. It is near the Urubamba River. The weather there is warm and wet. Many people call it the "Lost City of the Incas." It is a huge symbol of the Inca people.

This site is one of the most important places in the Americas. It sits on a narrow ridge between two peaks. These peaks are called Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.

The Inca people built this city with amazing skill. They used a style called dry-stone masonry. This means they fit stones together without using mortar.

They built many special buildings there. You can see the Temple of the Sun. There is also the Temple of the Three Windows. One very famous object is the Intihuatana stone.

The Inca also built hundreds of stone steps called terraces.

These terraces helped the mountain stay strong. They also helped water drain away during heavy rain. The terraces were built in layers of stone and gravel. This kept the soil rich for growing food.

History tells us the Inca built this site a long time ago. Most people believe it was built around 1450. It may have been a home for a ruler named Pachacuti.

Some scientists use radiocarbon dating to learn more. This method looks at very old things to find dates. Their studies show people lived there from 1420 to 1530. The city was used for about 80 years.

Then, the people left the site. This happened during the Spanish conquest of the Inca lands. The jungle grew over the stones for many years.

Life at Machu Picchu was busy and diverse. About 750 people lived in the city at one time.

Many of these people were immigrants from different lands. They came from the coast and the Amazon. They brought different foods like corn and potatoes. They also brought animals like llamas and alpacas.

They even had dogs to keep them company. People used the terraces to grow corn for ceremonies. However, they had to bring in much of their food from other valleys. This is because the mountain could not grow enough for everyone.

People found the city again in the early 1900s. An explorer named Agustín Lizárraga found it in 1902.

Later, an American named Hiram Bingham III brought it to the world in 1911.

Today, Machu Picchu is a very special place. Peru named it a National Historic Sanctuary in 1981. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

In 2007, it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Now, more than 1.5 million people visit every year. It is the most visited place in Peru.

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in southern Peru.

It sits on a mountain ridge in the Eastern Cordillera. The site is in the Machupicchu District of Urubamba Province. It is positioned northwest of Cusco and above the Sacred Valley. The Urubamba River flows below in a deep canyon. This area has a subtropical mountain climate. Many people call it the "Lost City of the Incas." It is a major archaeological site in the Americas. It serves as a powerful symbol of the Inca civilization.

The construction of the site used the classical Inca style. This style features finely crafted dry-stone walls. Dry-stone masonry means stones are fit together without mortar. This technique creates very strong and precise structures. Notable buildings include the Temple of the Sun. There is also the Temple of the Three Windows. Another important feature is the Intihuatana ritual stone.

The site sits on a narrow saddle between two peaks. These peaks are Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. In the Quechua language, "Machu" means old and "Picchu" means peak. Therefore, the name often translates to "old mountain."

Archaeologists study the history of the site through different methods. Earlier models suggested construction began around 1450. This was based on the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. However, modern radiocarbon dating provides different details. This method measures carbon in organic remains to find ages. A 2021 study used 26 AMS radiocarbon measurements from human remains. This research concluded that people occupied the site from 1420 to 1530. The site was likely a royal estate for Emperor Pachacuti. It was used for roughly 80 years before being abandoned. This abandonment likely happened during the Spanish conquest.

Life at the citadel involved a diverse group of people. It is estimated that about 750 people lived there. Most were support staff who lived there permanently. Other residents included religious specialists and temporary workers. These workers helped with the ruler's well-being and enjoyment. Studies of skeletal remains show the community was very diverse. Genome-wide analyses show people came from many different areas. They had Andean, coastal, Ecuadorian, and Amazonian ancestries. These immigrants lived and were buried together. They brought different diets involving maize, potatoes, grains, and fish. Some moved from coastal areas to the mountain. This change is seen in their diets having more corn.

Engineering was vital for surviving on the steep mountain. The Inca built hundreds of man-made terraces called andenes.

These terraces served several important purposes. They helped stabilize the slopes against landslides and erosion. They also helped manage soil fertility and drainage. Because the area receives over 1,000 mm of rain annually, drainage was critical. The terraces were built in layers for this reason. The bottom layer had large stones and loose gravel. Above that was packed sand and gravel. Finally, rich topsoil was placed on top. This topsoil was likely moved from the valley floor.

Agricultural activity on the terraces was limited. The farming area makes up only about 60% of the land. The crops were mostly corn and potatoes. This was not enough food to support 750 people. Therefore, much of the food was imported from other valleys. People also brought animals to the site for food and use. Most animal bones found were from llamas and alpacas. These animals usually live at higher altitudes called the Puna. Guinea pigs were also found in special tomb caves. They were likely used for meat or funerary rituals. Researchers even found six dogs that served as companions to the dead.

The site was known locally for a long time. The Peruvian explorer Agustín Lizárraga reached it in 1902. He marked his name on a window in charcoal. However, Hiram Bingham III brought it to international attention in 1911.

Since then, its importance has grown globally. Peru named it a National Historic Sanctuary in 1981. In 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2007, it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Today, it is Peru's most visited international destination. Over 1.5 million visitors arrive at the site every year.