| Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu
Located In:

Peru

History:

Machu Picchu nestles on the top of a mountain saddle high above the Urubamba river in the middle of the cloud forest. It was both a centre of worship and and astronomic observatory as well as the private retreat of the family of Inca ruler Pachacutec. It is split into major areas: the agricultural zone, made up of terracing and food storehouses; and the urban zone, featuring the sacred sector, with temples, squares and royal tombs which have been carved to an extraordinary degree of perfection. The stone staircases and canals are found throughout this unique archaeological site. Over the citadel looms Huayna Picchu(young mountain in Quechua), which can be climbed up a steep stone-paved trail.

The Machu Picchu historic sanctuary, and particularly the forests that line both banks of the Urubamba river, below the citadel of the Machu Picchu itself, are home to the habitats of an enormous variety of bird species, calculated at more than 400, such as the cock-of-the-rocks (Rupicola Peruviana), considered Peru's national bird. the area also features brightly colored orchids and tree-born ferns, considered treasures of the sanctuary.

Located in the department of Cuzco, covering an area of 32,592 hectares, the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary protects unique variety of flora and fauna, as well as featuring some breath-taking landscapes and preserving the archaeological sites to be found here. Much of the beauty and enhancement of Machu Picchu, Peru's premier tourist attraction, is due to it's spectecular natural surroundings.