Machu Picchu is located in which country?

Question: Machu Picchu is located in which country?

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Peru.

Machu Picchu, one of the most iconic and mystical archaeological sites in the world, is located in Peru. Situated in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430-meter-high mountain ridge, it is not only a testament to the Inca Empire’s ingenuity but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

This ancient citadel was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its construction is attributed to the Inca emperor Pachacuti, dating to the 15th century, around 1450. The site was abandoned just over a century later in 1572 as a belated result of the Spanish Conquest, even though the Spanish never found Machu Picchu and therefore did not plunder or destroy it as they did other sites. Rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu has since fascinated archaeologists and captivated the imaginations of people worldwide.

Machu Picchu is renowned not just for its architectural and engineering achievements but also for its breathtaking natural setting. Encircled by the towering Andean peaks and overlooking the Urubamba River hundreds of meters below, the site’s beauty is in its harmonious blend with nature. It consists of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries.

The most famous structures within Machu Picchu include the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These play significant roles in both the structural integrity and the alleged astronomical alignment of the site. The Intihuatana stone is believed to have been an astronomical clock or calendar by the Incas due to its precise positioning.

Machu Picchu remains one of Peru’s most valuable tourist attractions and an essential symbol of the Incan legacy. It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe annually, who trek through the Andean mountains to witness its historic sanctity and complex beauty. The government of Peru has taken steps to protect the site from over-tourism, which threatens to erode its physical and cultural integrity, ensuring that it remains preserved for future generations to study and admire.

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