PRESENTATION

In this paper we will present one of the wonders of the world, and fundamental

citios points that comprise this place, so the same as their discoverer and his

whole nature which surrounds it.

MACCHU PICCHU

INTRODUCCIN:

Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site in Peru, in South America.

The Incas built the city on a mountain ridge, 2430m above sea level. They lived

there between 1200 and 1450 AD. Other people lived there before about 650 AD.

The Incas built houses, fields and temples by cutting the rock on the mountain so

it was flat. They built an observatory to look at the stars.

When the Spanish invaded Peru, the Incas left Machu Picchu. Nobody knows for

sure why they did that, but some think it was because they were scared of the

Spanish. The city was left unfinished, most likely due to the Spanish invasion

and/or a civil war between the ruling rival Inca brothers

named Huascar and Atahualpa. The Spanish never found Machu Picchu or the lost

city during their occupation.

Machu Picchu is very difficult to get to because it is so high in the mountains. It

has only one way in and a stone wall to protect it. Most people on Earth did not

know it was there until a Yale graduate named Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in

1911. He heard rumours of a hidden city which was already known to the native

Peruvians, who guided him there. He led a restoration project that was partly

funded by the National Geographic Society. Bingham made a deal with the

government to take artifacts to the Peabody Museum for study. Peru is still trying

to have those artifacts returned to them.

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO

World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New

Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.

Today, there is a new road so that tourists can visit. People can also walk along the

Inca Trail, or take a train from Cusco.

DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS:

Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu Picchu is

believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders,

whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century.

For hundreds of years, until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled

upon it in 1911, the abandoned citadels existence was a secret known only to

peasants living in the region. The site stretches over an impressive 5-mile

distance, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that link its many different

levels. Today, hundreds of thousands of people tramp through Machu Picchu every

year, braving crowds and landslides to see the sun set over its towering stone

monuments and marvel at the mysterious splendor of one of the worlds most

famous manmade wonders.

MACHU PICCHUS INCA PAST

Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the Inca Empire, which

dominated western South America in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was

abandoned an estimated 100 years after its construction, probably around the

time the Spanish began their conquest of the mighty pre-Columbian civilization in

the 1530s. There is no evidence that the conquistadors ever attacked or even

reached the mountaintop citadel, however; for this reason, some have suggested

that the residents desertion occurred because of a smallpox epidemic.

DID YOU KNOW?

Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses

to temples and sanctuaries.

Many modern-day archaeologists now believe that Machu Picchu served as a royal

estate for Inca emperors and nobles. Others have theorized that it was a

religious site, pointing to its proximity to mountains and other geographical

features that the Incas held sacred. Dozens of alternate hypotheses have

cropped up in the years since Machu Picchu was first unveiled to the world, with

scholars variously interpreting it as a prison, a trade hub, a station for testing new

crops, a womens retreat or a city devoted to the coronation of kings, among many

examples.

MACHU PICCHUS DISCOVERY BY HIRAM BINGHAM

In the summer of 1911 the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham arrived in Peru

with a small team of explorers hoping to find Vilcabamba, the last Inca stronghold

to fall to the Spanish. Traveling on foot and by mule, Bingham and his team made

their way from Cuzco into the Urubamba Valley, where a local farmer told them of

some ruins located at the top of a nearby mountain. The farmer called the

mountain Machu Picchu, which translates to old peak in the native Quechua

language. On July 24, after a tough climb to the mountains ridge in cold and

drizzly weather, Bingham met a small group of peasants who showed him the rest

of the way. Led by an 11-year-old boy, Bingham got his first glimpse of the

intricate network of stone terraces marking the entrance to Machu Picchu.

The excited Bingham spread the word about his discovery in a best-selling book,

The Lost City of the Incas, sending hordes of eager tourists flocking to Peru to

follow in his footsteps up the formerly obscure Inca Trail. He also excavated

artifacts from Machu Picchu and took them to Yale University for further

inspection, igniting a custody dispute that lasted nearly 100 years. It was not until

the Peruvian government filed a lawsuit and lobbied President Barack Obama for

the return of the items that Yale agreed to complete their repatriation.

Although he is credited with making Machu Picchu known to the worldindeed, the

highway tour buses use to reach it bears his nameit is not certain that Bingham

was the first outsider to visit it. There is evidence that missionaries and other

explorers reached the site during the 19th and early 20th centuries but were

simply less vocal about what they uncovered there.

THE SITE OF MACHU PICCHU

In the midst of a tropical mountain forest on the eastern slopes of the Peruvian

Andes, Machu Picchus walls, terraces, stairways and ramps blend seamlessly into

its natural setting. The sites finely crafted stonework, terraced fields and

sophisticated irrigation system bear witness to the Inca civilizations

architectural, agricultural and engineering prowess. Its central buildings are prime

examples of a masonry technique mastered by the Incas in which stones were cut

to fit together without mortar.

Archaeologists have identified several distinct sectors that together comprise

the city, including a farming zone, a residential neighborhood, a royal district and

a sacred area. Machu Picchus most distinct and famous structures include the

Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana stone, a sculpted granite rock that is

believed to have functioned as a solar clock or calendar.

MACHU PICCHU TODAY

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and designated one of the New Seven

Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu is Perus most visited attraction and

South Americas most famous ruins, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people a

year. Increased tourism, the development of nearby towns and environmental

degradation continue to take their toll on the site, which is also home to several

endangered species. As a result, the Peruvian government has taken steps to

protect the ruins and prevent erosion of the mountainside in recent years.

WHO WAS HIRAM BINGHAM?

Bingham was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Hiram Bingham II (18311908), an early

Protestant missionary to the Kingdom of Hawai'i, the grandson of Hiram Bingham

I (17891869), another missionary. He attended O'ahu College, now known

as Punahou School in Hawai'i from 1882 to 1892. He went to the United States in

his teens in order to complete his education, entering Phillips Academy in Andover,

Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1894. He obtained a B.A. degree

from Yale University in 1898, a degree from the University of California,

Berkeley in 1900, and a Ph. D. degree from Harvard University in 1905.

Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham III, (November 19, 1875 June 6, 1956)

was an academic, explorer and politician from the United States. He made public

the existence of the Quechua citadel of Machu Picchu in 1911 with the guidance of

local indigenous farmers. Later, Bingham served as a member of the United States

Senate.

BRIEF SYNTHESIS

Embedded within a dramatic landscape at the meeting point between the Peruvian

Andes and the Amazon Basin, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is among the

greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere and the most

significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization. Recognized for outstanding

cultural and natural values, the mixed World Heritage property covers 32,592

hectares of mountain slopes, peaks and valleys surrounding its heart, the

spectacular archaeological monument of La Ciudadela (the Citadel) at more than

2,400 meters above sea level. Built in the fifteenth century Machu Picchu was

abandoned when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth

century. It was not until 1911 that the archaeological complex was made known to

the outside world.

The Eastern slopes of the tropical Andes with its enormous gradient from high

altitude Puna grasslands and Polylepis thickets to montane cloud forests all the

way down towards the tropical lowland forests are known to harbour a rich

biodiversity and high endemism of global significance. Despite its small size the

property contributes to conserving a very rich habitat and species diversity with

remarkable endemic and relict flora and fauna.

Criterion (i): The Inca City of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is

the articulating centre of its surroundings, a masterpiece of art, urbanism,

architecture and engineering of the Inca Civilization. The working of the

mountain, at the foot of the Huaya Picchu, is the exceptional result of

integration with its environment, the result from a gigantic effort as if it

were an extension of nature.

Criterion (iii): The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a unique

testimony of the Inca Civilization and shows a well-planned distribution of

functions within space, territory control, and social, productive, religious

and administrative organization.

Criterion (vii): The historic monuments and features in the Historic

Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are embedded within a dramatic mountain

landscape of exceptional scenic and geomorphological beauty thereby

providing an outstanding example of a longstanding harmonious and

aesthetically stunning relationship between human culture and nature.

Criterion (ix): Covering part of the transition between the High Andes and

the Amazon Basin the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu shelters a

remarkably diverse array of microclimates, habitats and species of flora

and fauna with a high degree of endemism. The property is part of a larger

area unanimously considered of global significance for biodiversity

conservation.

INTEGRITY The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu meets the conditions of integrity, as the

natural and human-made attributes and values that sustain its Outstanding

Universal value are mostly contained within its boundaries. The visual ensemble

linking the main archaeological site of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

with its striking mountain environment remains mostly intact.

It is desirable to extend the property to encompass an even broader spectrum of

human-land relationships, additional cultural sites, such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo

in the Sacred Valley, and a larger part of the Urubamba watershed would

contribute to strengthening the overall integrity. In particular, the value for the

conservation of the many rare and endemic species of flora and fauna would

benefit from the inclusion or a stronger management consideration of the

adjacent lands. A considerable number of well-documented threats render the

property vulnerable to losing its future integrity and will require permanent

management attention.

AUTHENTICITY Upon the abandonment of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu at the

beginning of the sixteenth century, vegetation growth and isolation ensured the

conservation of the architectural attributes of the property. Although the design,

materials and structures have suffered slight changes due to the decay of the

fabric, the conditions of authenticity have not changed. The rediscovery in 1911,

and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have

followed practices and international standards that have maintained the

attributes of the property.

PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

The state-owned Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is an integral part of Perus

national protected areas system and enjoys protection through several layers of a

comprehensive legal framework for both cultural and natural heritage. The

boundaries of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are clearly defined and the

protected area is surrounded by a buffer zone exceeding the size of the

property.

The Management Unit of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UGM) was

established in 1999 to lead the strategies contained in the Master Plans, which

are the regularly updated governing documents for the management of the

property. UGM was reactivated in 2011 and is comprised of representatives of the

Ministries of Culture, Environment and Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Regional

Government of Cusco, serving as the President of the Executive Committee, and

the local municipality of Machu Picchu. A platform bringing together key

governmental representatives at all levels is indispensable for the management of

a property which forms part of Perus very identity and is the countrys primary

domestic and international tourist destination.

Notwithstanding the adequate legislative and formal management framework,

there are important challenges to the inter-institutional governance and the

effectiveness of management and protection of the property. The dispersed

legislation would benefit from further harmonization and despite existing efforts

the involvement of various ministries and governmental levels ranging from local to

national remains a complex task, including in light of the sharing of the significant

tourism revenues. Tourism itself represents a double-edged sword by providing

economic benefits but also by resulting in major cultural and ecological impacts.

The strongly increasing number of visitors to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu

Picchu must be matched by an adequate management regulating access,

diversifying the offer and efforts to fully understand and minimize impacts. A

larger appropriate and increasing share of the significant tourism revenues could

be re-invested in planning and management. The planning and organization of

transportation and infrastructure construction, as well as the sanitary and safety

conditions for both tourists and new residents attracted by tourism requires the

creation of high quality and new long-term solutions, and is a significant ongoing

concern.

Since the time of inscription consistent concerns have been expressed about

ecosystem degradation through logging, firewood and commercial plant collection,

poor waste management, poaching, agricultural encroachment in the absence of

clear land tenure arrangements, introduced species and water pollution from both

urban waste and agro-chemicals in the Urubamba River, in addition from pressures

derived from broader development in the region. It is important to remember that

the overall risks are aggravated by the location in a high altitude with extreme

topography and weather conditions and thus susceptibility to natural disasters.

Continuous efforts are needed to comply with protected areas and other

legislation and plans and prevent further degradation. There is also great potential

for restoring degraded areas.

ITS NOT ACTUALLY THE LOST CITY OF THE INCA

When the explorer Hiram Bingham III encountered Machu Picchu in 1911, he was

looking for a different city, known as Vilcabamba. This was a hidden capital to which the Inca had escaped after the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1532. Over

time it became famous as the legendary Lost City of the Inca. Bingham spent most

of his life arguing that Machu Picchu and Vilcabamba were one and the same, a

theory that wasnt proved wrong until after his death in 1956. (The real

Vilcabamba is now believed to have been built in the jungle about 50 miles west of

Machu Picchu.) Recent research has cast doubt on whether Machu Picchu had ever

been forgotten at all. When Bingham arrived, three families of farmers were living

at the site.

SPECIES

The species listed below represent a small sample of iconic and/or IUCN Red

Listed animals and plants found in the property. Clicking on the number in brackets

next to the species will reveal other World Heritage Properties in which a species

has been identified. These species are identified in an effort to better

communicate the biological diversity contained within World Heritage properties

inscribed under criteria ix and/or x.

Leopardus colocolo / Pampas Cat

Leopardus pardalis / Ocelot

Lutra longicaudis / Neotropical Otter

Mazama chunyi / Peruvian Dwarf Brocket

Mustela frenata / Long-tailed Weasel

Penelope montagnii / Andean Guan

Vultur gryphus / Andean Condor

Also it has other species, how for example:

Llama.

Alpaca.

Vicua.

CONCLUSION

You can give as conclusion, that we Peruvians are proud to have this

country, which has a wonder of the world, plus a totally huge dining and

biodiversity which has an infinite amount mentioned.

Another conclusion that can be given is that, people could realize this

immense wonder, were the Incas, who numbered with a huge architectural

level and wisdom so they can build all this megacity.

You can also say that one of the species which are becoming extinct, are

vicuas, animal which is representative and critical of this citadel.

We can also say that if the Spanish had not come to conquer this fortress,

or rather, they had not come to our country, then even we would have

preserved our culture and tradition, which I think I would have been right

and best for us and our country.