Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about
Machu Picchu in Peru
Here’s everything you need to know about the ancient ruins of the Inca civilisation.
1. Each stone was precisely cut to fit together so tightly that no mortar was needed to keep the walls standing
I promise, this is cooler than it sounds. Imagine digging a hole, building your own lego castle and burying the bottom half in the sand. Now think about trying to do that on a mega scale without any equipment. No animal power, iron tools or wheels were used in the process of excavating the stone and shifting each piece to the top of the Sacred Valley. The foundation was built to withstand an earthquake. Yep, Machu Picchu is impressive!
2. Machu Picchu sits at 2,430 metres above sea level
What does this mean for you? Well… Machu Picchu is 1,000 metres lower than Cusco, so if you’ve just flown in, take a day or two to acclimatise before making your way to the the gateway town of Aguas Calientes. Exploring Machu Picchu can be strenuous and altitude affects people in different ways, so if you have any medical conditions or take medication, it’s recommended to see your doctor before leaving for your trip.
3. Machu Picchu is a Wonder of the World and a World Heritage-listed site
In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Known to some as a ‘lost city’, in fact there were several farming families living in the surrounds of Machu Picchu when it was discovered by the explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Recent research points to many locals being aware of the site before it was catapulted into public popularity.
4. The Inca empire was one of the largest in pre-Columbian America covering Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador
Inca means ‘king’ or ‘emperor’ and the word carried weight throughout modern-day South America. At the height of the empire, the Incas were the backbone of the Andes ruling over more than 20 million people between the 1400s-1500s. It all came to an end when the emperor Atahualpa was killed by Spanish conquistadors in 1533.
5. Llamas really *are* trying to photo bomb your holiday pics!
If llamas could take selfies, we’d all have to shut down our social accounts. Apart from this impressive modern-day talent, llamas were traditionally valued for their wool and nutrient-rich poop to fertilize crops. Before Googling llama vs alpaca (highly amusing by the way), it helps to know the difference between the two while travelling throughout South America – both can be found grazing the grounds at Machu Picchu. Llamas are related to the camel family and grow up to twice the size of an alpaca. They were important resources for the Incas not having other domesticated animals such as horses, goats or sheep.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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