Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian Inca city located in the Andes mountains northwest of Cusco, Peru. In 2007, the abandoned city was named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

1. Referred to as the "Lost City of the Inca"Labyrinthina.com: Machu Picchu
2. Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911Labyrinthina.com: Machu Picchu
3. Constructed about 1450Sacred Land: Machu Picchu
4. Abandoned less than 100 years after constructionSacred Land: Machu Picchu
5. 2,430 meters above sea levelUnesco: Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
6. Declared in 1983 by UNESCO as The Sanctuary a World Heritage SiteInca Trail Info: Machu Picchu General Info
7. Believed that it was chosen by "the cosmos" to construct a sacred cityInca Trail Info: Machu Picchu General Info
8. The place was known as Picchu, Piccho, or Picho during colonial timesPerucultural.org.pe: Machu Picchu
9. Divided into two sectors - The Agricultural sector and The Urban or The CitadelPerucultural.org.pe: Machu Picchu
10. Picchu was initially given in encomienda to Hernando PizarroPerucultural.org.pe: Machu Picchu

Built in 1450, the citadel city was mysteriously abandoned less than 100 years later. Some experts believe the population was decimated by smallpox. Despite its close proximity to the bustling former Inca capital of Cusco, the site was not plundered or known of by the Spanish who ruled Peru since the collapse of the Inca Empire in the 16th century. Although there is some debate as to who "discovered" Machu Picchu, Yale University historian Hiram Bingham is usually credited with the achievement. His photographs and interpretation of the site appeared in a 1913 issue of National Geographic and immediately aroused interest around the world.

The most distinguished structures in the stone city are the Temple of the Sun and the Room of Three Windows. The table-like Intihuatana is believed to be an astronomic clock used by the Inca to chart the stars.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the city remains a highly popular destination for travelers, many of whom hike to the site on organized treks. In recent years, concern about the environmental impact of tourism to the site has increased.

• • Mahalo's Guide to Machu Picchu Vacation
• Frommer's: In Depth: Endangered Machu Picchu | South Americas Top Attraction: Machu Picchu
• Wikitravel: Machu Picchu Travel Guide
• Fordor's: Cusco & Machu Picchu Travel Guide

• World Heritage