Peru Location
Peru is located at 13 º 9 '47 "south latitude and 72 º 32' 44" west longitude. District is part of the same name, in the province of Urubamba, Department of Cuzco, Peru. The nearest major city is Cuzco, the capital region and former Inca capital, 130 miles away.
The mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu are part of a formation known as orographic Vilcabamba Batholith in the Central Cordillera of the Andes. They are on the left bank of the Urubamba Canyon called, formerly known as Quebrada de Picchu.7 At the foot of the hills and virtually surrounding them, runs the river Vilcanota-Urubamba. The Inca ruins are located halfway between the tops of two mountains, 450 meters high above the valley and 2,438 meters above the sea level. The floor area is approximately 530 meters long by 200 wide, with 172 buildings in its urban area. Biogeographically is located in the Peruvian Yungas ecoregion.
The ruins themselves are untouchable land within a National System of Protected Natural Areas (SINANPE), 8 called the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, which covers an area of 32,592 hectares (80,535 acres or 325, 92 km ²) of the basin of the river Vilcanota-Urubamba (the Willka mayu or "sacred river" of the Incas). The Historic Sanctuary protects a number of biological species in danger of extinction and several establishments Incas, 9 including Machu Picchu is considered primary.
The mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu are part of a formation known as orographic Vilcabamba Batholith in the Central Cordillera of the Andes. They are on the left bank of the Urubamba Canyon called, formerly known as Quebrada de Picchu.7 At the foot of the hills and virtually surrounding them, runs the river Vilcanota-Urubamba. The Inca ruins are located halfway between the tops of two mountains, 450 meters high above the valley and 2,438 meters above the sea level. The floor area is approximately 530 meters long by 200 wide, with 172 buildings in its urban area. Biogeographically is located in the Peruvian Yungas ecoregion.
The ruins themselves are untouchable land within a National System of Protected Natural Areas (SINANPE), 8 called the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, which covers an area of 32,592 hectares (80,535 acres or 325, 92 km ²) of the basin of the river Vilcanota-Urubamba (the Willka mayu or "sacred river" of the Incas). The Historic Sanctuary protects a number of biological species in danger of extinction and several establishments Incas, 9 including Machu Picchu is considered primary.
Machupicchu
The citadel of Machu Picchu is the most important tourist attraction of Cusco. Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham, this citadel is considered one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world.
Machu Picchu (in Quechua "old mountain"), sits atop a mountain overlooking the Urubamba River canyon deep in the tropical forest, was both a center of worship and astronomical observation and private family Inca Pachacutec. It consists of two areas: one agricultural, formed mainly by mountains and food storage, and other urban, which emphasizes the sacred area, with temples, squares and royal tombs with consummate skill. The stairways and canals carved stone are recurrent throughout this unique archaeological site. Facing the citadel is the Huayna Picchu (in Quechua, 'Young Mountain'), which is reached via a winding stone path.
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, located in the department of Cusco, an area of 32,592 hectares, serves to preserve a unique flora and fauna, and beautiful landscapes of the surrounding forests and contribute to the protection of remnants archaeological located there. Much of the beauty and charm that surrounds Machu Picchu, Peru's biggest tourist attraction is due to its spectacular natural environment: mountain forests of this historic sanctuary.
Machu Picchu is home to some spectacular creatures, like the cock of the rock-national bird of Peru, and the Andean bear ucumari, the only South American ursid. They also find refuge in the area or the rare dwarf deer sachacabra, the tanka taruca and over 300 species of birds. The flora is particularly varied and interesting: about 200 species of orchids have been recorded in the sanctuary.
Sanctuary dominates the landscape of the majestic Salkantay (6,271 masl), the largest snow mountain of the Cordillera Vilcanota, revered by locals as Apu or tutelary deity. Machu Picchu combines the majesty of a beautiful natural setting with the charm of the most famous pre-Hispanic ruins world.
Huayna Picchu is the immediate mountain to Machu Picchu and Inca remains also present at the summit, you can climb up a steep and narrow path.
Machu Picchu (in Quechua "old mountain"), sits atop a mountain overlooking the Urubamba River canyon deep in the tropical forest, was both a center of worship and astronomical observation and private family Inca Pachacutec. It consists of two areas: one agricultural, formed mainly by mountains and food storage, and other urban, which emphasizes the sacred area, with temples, squares and royal tombs with consummate skill. The stairways and canals carved stone are recurrent throughout this unique archaeological site. Facing the citadel is the Huayna Picchu (in Quechua, 'Young Mountain'), which is reached via a winding stone path.
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, located in the department of Cusco, an area of 32,592 hectares, serves to preserve a unique flora and fauna, and beautiful landscapes of the surrounding forests and contribute to the protection of remnants archaeological located there. Much of the beauty and charm that surrounds Machu Picchu, Peru's biggest tourist attraction is due to its spectacular natural environment: mountain forests of this historic sanctuary.
Machu Picchu is home to some spectacular creatures, like the cock of the rock-national bird of Peru, and the Andean bear ucumari, the only South American ursid. They also find refuge in the area or the rare dwarf deer sachacabra, the tanka taruca and over 300 species of birds. The flora is particularly varied and interesting: about 200 species of orchids have been recorded in the sanctuary.
Sanctuary dominates the landscape of the majestic Salkantay (6,271 masl), the largest snow mountain of the Cordillera Vilcanota, revered by locals as Apu or tutelary deity. Machu Picchu combines the majesty of a beautiful natural setting with the charm of the most famous pre-Hispanic ruins world.
Huayna Picchu is the immediate mountain to Machu Picchu and Inca remains also present at the summit, you can climb up a steep and narrow path.
Different ways for go to Machupicchu
The archaeological site itself is only accessible either from the Inca roads that reach it, or using the Hiram Bingham Road (which climbs the hill slope of Machu Picchu from the train station of Puente Ruinas, located at the bottom of the barrel) . Neither forms relieve the visitor of the price of admission to the ruins.
The said road, however, is not integrated into the national road network in Peru. Born in the town of Aguas Calientes, which in turn is only accessible by rail (about 3 hours from Cuzco) 11 or helicopter (30 minutes from Cuzco). The absence of a direct road to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu is intentional and allows you to control the flow of visitors to the area, which, given its national reserve, is particularly sensitive to the crowds. This, however, has not prevented the disorderly growth (criticized by cultural authorities) from Aguas Calientes, who lives and tourism, as there are hotels and restaurants in different categories here.
To get to Machu Picchu Inca Trail by the principal to do a walk of about 3 days. This requires taking the train to km 82 of the railroad Cusco - Aguas Calientes, from where the walking tour.
Some visitors take a local bus from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo (via Urubamba) and then take a shuttle to the above km 82. Once there walk the railroad tracks to cover the 32 miles there to Aguas Calientes.
Weather
_El tiempo es cálido y húmedo durante el día y fresco por la noche. La
temperatura oscila entre los 12 y los 24 grados centígrados. La zona es
por regla general lluviosa (unos 1.955 mm anuales), especialmente entre
noviembre y marzo. Las lluvias, que son copiosas, se alternan
rápidamente con momentos de intenso brillo solar
Geology
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El conjunto del sitio arqueológico ha sido construido sobre el Batolito de Vilcabamba, compuesto de rocas intrusivas que datan aproximadamente de unos 250 millones de años, instrusivos Permo-Triásicos14 de principalmente Granito blanco a grisáceo, cortado por algunas vetas de tonalitas y talcesquistos.
El macizo granítico se encuentra cortado por una serie de fallas y diaclasas que juegan un papel importante en la conformación actual del relieve y en su evolución.
El conjunto del sitio arqueológico ha sido construido sobre el Batolito de Vilcabamba, compuesto de rocas intrusivas que datan aproximadamente de unos 250 millones de años, instrusivos Permo-Triásicos14 de principalmente Granito blanco a grisáceo, cortado por algunas vetas de tonalitas y talcesquistos.
El macizo granítico se encuentra cortado por una serie de fallas y diaclasas que juegan un papel importante en la conformación actual del relieve y en su evolución.