Machu Picchu Cusco Perú

At a distance of 120 km. of the city of Cusco, at an altitude of 2,400 m (7,900 p) m asl, is the citadel of Machu Picchu (which in English means Old Mountain). The spectacular surrounding ecological system, consists of a lush jungle and rugged mountains. It is believed that Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, one of the finest examples of Inca architecture, was built in the middle of the fifteenth century by Inca Pachacutec. Lost in history, was not discovered until 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham.

The ruins are located on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two separate areas: the agricultural and the urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canals) and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares and royal houses). Although the constructions show different levels of architecture, religious buildings exhibit a high degree of perfection. The general construction was made with stone roofs and trunks of trees, covered with bunch grass or straw.

Machu Picchu is now considered a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. Its unique architectural features, landscaping, and green are the veil of mystery that has woven around much of the information published on the site, they have become one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. And thus a world wonder.

Because of its natural beauty and harmony to the original intervention in the landscape Incas Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel has been declared as a natural and cultural park that has been incorporated into protected areas in the world and UNESCO has registered as World Heritage.

The sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Old Mountain), is built in the woods and has few flat spaces, so we had to deforest to cultivate and build terraces in Peru known as terraces.

According to recent studies, apart from corn, also planted coca in the platforms surrounding the citadel of Machu Picchu. Similarly, could cultivate fruits and tubers, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes and cassava, which are now staples worldwide

Machu Picchu The park consists of various plant species: trees, ferns, grasses, mosses and bushy plants. Along with Pisonay and alder, the latter a very popular leafy tree throughout the Peruvian highlands, we can also find several species of conifers and broadleaf trees that can reach several meters high.

Orchids occupy a very special place, because there is, across from the Inca citadel.

Fauna of Machu Picchu

The striking architecture of the citadel of Machu Picchu in harmony with its natural beauty, the citadel, from the entrance to the seventh wonder is full of diverse flora and fauna in a way that offers the most complex visual concept beautifully.

When the Spanish arrived, they found a variety of medicinal and food plants, the advantage over these sparsely and considered “Indian food.”

Besides the Incas raised animals such as llamas and alpacas, however, because these animals such as llamas and alpacas were consistently linked to the Incas, there is no doubt his presence because often had to cover transport of goods between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

The bones of these animals have been found in tombs excavated at the site and there are evidences to assume that also were part of the diet of the Inca population. And currently still consume

Alongside these bones have also found the two other Andean pets such as cuy, or guinea pig (which in other countries is considered a pet), and the dog, obviously introduced by humans.