#57 Machu Picchu #6

A map of the Machu Picchu site.  Esmerelda was our tour guide.
This Inca city has temples, palaces, shrines, plazas. streets, paths,
baths and some houses.  There are two big areas to this city:
the agricultural part and the urban area.

The view from the start of the trail.  Machu Picchu was discovered
on July 24, 1911 by an American explorer and professor of History
named Hiram Bingham. 

It was a little cloudy when we first arrived but
that seemed to add a mystical feeling about this
place.  If you look to the right in this picture
about in the middle, above the green, you can
see the river below. The elevation here is
only about 7,200 feet. The steep mountains
all around made it seen much higher. 

This area is a group of buildings connected by streets and corridors,
probably used for housing.

You can see some of the many terraces, which were believed to
have been used for agriculture.  The Incas made the terraces. They  were
filled with first rocks, sand and then topsoil.  They had a good
drainage system to avoid flooding from the rains. They were built
where they would receive the maximum warmth and sunlight. 

This rock formation is located on the highest part of the urban area.  It
was thought to be part of the Inca ceremony during the winter solstice. 

 

 

This is a picture with the guard houses.  They are located on the
end of the terraces.  

There was plenty of  stairs to climb.

 

The walls are all constructed without mortar.  This one was believed
to have been moved by an earthquake. 

This is the quarry where the rocks were found.  It is located just
about in the middle of the city.  

Looking down at the terraces to the river below. 

There is a large grassy area where llamas were grazing.  

All the windows are of this shape.  

A good view of how steep the roofs were.

Lots of stairs!!

Another view of the guard houses.  The smallest house on the top
and the biggest one on the bottom. They are located at one of the
entrances to the city.  

OK, Lloyd don't step any closer to the edge.
It is a long ways down.