Machu Picchu is an important 15th century pre-Columbian site built by the Inca civilization in Peru on a mountain ridge over 2,400 meters above sea level. The Incas constructed houses, temples and other structures by leveling the rocky terrain and also built an observatory. The city was abandoned as the Spanish invaded Peru and brought disease, with its discovery unknown until 1911 when American historian Hiram Bingham rediscovered the lost city and helped restore it with National Geographic. Machu Picchu is now a popular tourist destination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

1. Machu Picchu
Situated in Peru, South America, Machu Picchu is a remarkable pre-Columbian site
that dates back to the 15th century. It was built by the Inca civilization on a mountain
ridge that is 2430m above sea level. While the Incas lived there between 1200 and
1450 AD, evidence suggests that others had lived there even before 650 AD.
The Incas built houses, fields, and temples by leveling the rocky terrain of the
mountain. They also constructed an observatory to observe the stars. However,
when the Spanish invaded Peru, the Incas abandoned Machu Picchu. While the
reason behind their departure is not certain, some speculate it was due to diseases
brought by the Europeans. The city was left incomplete, likely due to the Spanish
invasion and the civil war between the rival Inca brothers, Huascar and Atahualpa.
Despite occupying Peru, the Spanish never discovered Machu Picchu.
Located high in the mountains, Machu Picchu is challenging to access. It has only
one entrance and is surrounded by a stone wall for protection. The existence of the

2. city was unknown to most until Hiram Bingham, a Yale graduate, rediscovered it in
1911. Bingham heard rumors of a hidden city that native Peruvians knew about and
led an effort to restore it. The restoration was partially funded by the National
Geographic Society, and Bingham made an agreement with the government to take
artifacts to the Peabody Museum for examination. Today, Peru is attempting to
recover those artifacts.
Machu Picchu gained recognition in 1981 as a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary and
was later named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It gained recognition in
2007 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, following a global online poll.
Nowadays, tourists can easily visit the site through a new road, take the Inca Trail, or
board a train from Cusco.
If you want to read more click the link below
https://www.historicalwonders.com/