Tourists to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, a once-great Inca city deserted in the Andes Mountain range, is a highly desirable tourist location (Damon 7). Shrouded with mystery and an eerie air, its discovery, exploration, and significance have been both researched and debated upon. Near the edge of the Amazon Basin, it sits atop the mountain as a testimony to the Inca’s architecture and art. Efforts are made to protect this highly significant city frozen in time (UNESCO 8).
Discovery
In July of 1911, Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of an Inca city in the mountains. Along with their native guide and military assistance, they discovered what he had thought was a long lost city he had been searching for, the final city that had been the capital of the Incan Empire. The city was not, in fact what he had been looking for, but held clues to what it was despite its air of mystery. It is believed to be a stronghold for an Incan ruler, who was avoiding capture during Spain’s conquest of South America (Damon 1-4). No one knows for certain why it was built, why it was abandoned, or who commissioned its building, but Bingham’s further explorations lead to discovering more ruins and the supposed capital he had been searching for. (Damon 5)
Machu Picchu …show more content…
At 2,430 meters above sea level, with circa 200 structures, the naturalistic city offers many sights. Being cut partially out of existing stone in the mountain, the integrity of its structures is well maintained (UNESCO 9-10).The land surrounding houses a wide habitat, and the surrounding rainforest protects even endangered species. In present day, people are working to protect and maintain the beautiful sweeping landscape around this section of the Andes Mountains. The raw materials and craftsmanship of the architecture is considered to be some of the Inca Empire's greatest achievements. (UNESCO
Machu Picchu, a once-great Inca city deserted in the Andes Mountain range, is a highly desirable tourist location (Damon 7). Shrouded with mystery and an eerie air, its discovery, exploration, and significance have been both researched and debated upon. Near the edge of the Amazon Basin, it sits atop the mountain as a testimony to the Inca’s architecture and art. Efforts are made to protect this highly significant city frozen in time (UNESCO 8).
Discovery
In July of 1911, Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of an Inca city in the mountains. Along with their native guide and military assistance, they discovered what he had thought was a long lost city he had been searching for, the final city that had been the capital of the Incan Empire. The city was not, in fact what he had been looking for, but held clues to what it was despite its air of mystery. It is believed to be a stronghold for an Incan ruler, who was avoiding capture during Spain’s conquest of South America (Damon 1-4). No one knows for certain why it was built, why it was abandoned, or who commissioned its building, but Bingham’s further explorations lead to discovering more ruins and the supposed capital he had been searching for. (Damon 5)
Machu Picchu …show more content…
At 2,430 meters above sea level, with circa 200 structures, the naturalistic city offers many sights. Being cut partially out of existing stone in the mountain, the integrity of its structures is well maintained (UNESCO 9-10).The land surrounding houses a wide habitat, and the surrounding rainforest protects even endangered species. In present day, people are working to protect and maintain the beautiful sweeping landscape around this section of the Andes Mountains. The raw materials and craftsmanship of the architecture is considered to be some of the Inca Empire's greatest achievements. (UNESCO