Machu Picchu in Peru

                                        Machu Picchu in Peru

Machu Picchu which means ‘Old Mountain’ in the local Quechua language is a famous site in Peru. It is also referred to as 'The Lost City of the Incas'.

The ruins of the Lost City are located in the mountains, at more than 2,400 metres/8,000 feet above sea level. This ruin site has more than 200 different buildings and structures. The ruins were never discovered by the European conquistadors but only became known in 1911 when an American archeologist was led to the site by locals.

While some people believe that Machu Picchu was built as a sacred site, others think it once was the summer retreat of an Inca emperor.  It was built during the 14th century and probably more than 1,000 people lived there. As the site is built on a mountain ridge and thus always would be in danger of sliding down the slope during the rainy season, over 600 terraces and a well laid-out drainage system were built around the city.

The city is a magical sight and a great example of Inca engineering, as the structures and buildings of the city were also built without using wheels! More info on Machu Picchu here.