Machu
Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the
Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s
renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without
the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments
and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.
Address: Peru
Elevation: 7,972′
Area: 125.8 mi²
Abandoned: 1572
State Party: Peru
Founded: c. 1450
Did you know: In 1983, it was
declared the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.