Peru Inca Ruins ~ Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu (Spanish: Machu Picchu), also known as Machu Picchu, is located 75 kilometers northwest of Cuzco Province in the Republic of Peru (Perú), at the geographical coordinates of 13°9′23″S latitude and 72°32′34″W longitude. The entire site towers on a ridge about 2,350 meters above sea level. It is a famous pre-Columbian Inca Empire site built in the 15th century and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. In Quechua, Machu Picchu means "Old Mountain" and is also known as the "Lost City of the Incas." It is a well-preserved pre-Columbian Inca site. Machu Picchu is the most important archaeological excavation center in South America, and as such, it is the most popular tourist attraction in Peru. Due to its unique location, geographical features, and late discovery, Machu Picchu has become the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. In 1983, the ancient temple of Machu Picchu was approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a cultural/natural dual heritage site and was listed in the World Heritage List.