World Heritage Spotlight

Glossary

canal: a long, namow. man-made stretch of water

fourtain: a jet of water forced into the air by a pump

temple: a building where people pray to or worship a god or gods

The Lost City

The Inca people built Machu Picchu in about 1450, at a place high in the Andes Mountains. Made from stone. Machu Picchu had 200 buildings, including houses and temples.

Experts believe Machu Picchu was mainly used as a religious center, and normally had a population of about 300. In the winter months (June - August), visitors including royal family members came to Machu Picchu to escape the extreme cold of the capital, Cusco. At these times, the city was filled with over 1,000 people.

For nearly 100 years, Machu Picchu was a busy, peaceful city. Then, in 1532, the Inca people left the city. Machu Picchu, once a city of great strength, was left empty and forgotten for many centuries. Eventually the ancient site was found by an American explorer Hiram Bingham, in 1911.

While Peru wants to encourage people from abroad to visit Machu Picchu, the country is also worried about negative influences of tourism. For this reason, only 500 people are all wed to climb the popular Inca Trail cach day.

It seemed like an unbeleivable dream... What could this place. be? Why had no one given us any idea of it? Hiram Bingham

City in the Clouds

-built in year  1450 by the Inca people.

- population ranged from 300 to more than 1,000

- used mainly as a religious center; only entrance was by the huge building

- now 500 tourists can visit each day

- became World Heritage Site in......