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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu (in hispanicized spelling, Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmatʃu ˈpiktʃu]) or Machu Pikchu (Quechua machu old, old person, pikchu peak; mountain or prominence with a broad base which ends in sharp peaks,[1] "old peak", pronunciation [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpixtʃu]) is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level.[2][3] It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru.[4] It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450, but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Machu Picchu is vulnerable to threats. History Early encounters Geography

Machu Picchu Peru - a visual guide to the lost city of the Incas Machu Picchu - 25: Condor Temple THE TEMPLE OF THE CONDOR Part of what Bingham called the Prison Group, the Temple of the Condor contains large niches in its underground vaults that, according to him, may have been used for binding the wrists of prisoners. Again, not all experts agree and tend more towards the idea that it was another temple, particularly as there appears to be an altar in a natural fissure of the rock. If you have the time and the energy, make your way up to the Caretaker’s Hut and then hike a small stretch of the Inca Trail as far as the Sun Gate or Inti Punko.

Chichen Itza Chichen Itza (/tʃiːˈtʃɛn iːˈtsɑː/,[1] Spanish: Chichén Itzá [tʃiˈtʃen iˈtsa], from Yucatec Maya: Chi'ch'èen Ìitsha' [tɕʰɨɪʼtɕʼeːn˧˩ iː˧˩tsʰaʲ];[2] "at the mouth of the well of the Itza") was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Post Classic. The archaeological site is located in the municipality of Tinum, in the Mexican state of Yucatán.[3] Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic (c. AD 600–900) through the Terminal Classic (c.AD 800–900) and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period (c. AD 900–1200). Chichen Itza was one of the largest Maya cities and it was likely to have been one of the mythical great cities, or Tollans, referred to in later Mesoamerican literature.[4] The city may have had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that could have contributed to the variety of architectural styles at the site.[5] Name and orthography[edit] Location[edit] Political organization[edit]

US drone to map ancient Peru ruins Washington - Archaeologists in Peru plan to use a US-made drone to survey ancient Andean ruins, in the latest civilian application of the unmanned aerial vehicles used to hunt militants in the world's war zones. The device, which can fit in a backpack, is due to be tested later this month at the ruins of the 16th-century Spanish colonial town Mawchu Llacta, some 4 100m above sea level. The Skate Small Unmanned Aerial System will take only about 10 minutes to map the massive site the size of 25 football fields, saving the researchers months of time-consuming cataloguing, they said. "Mawchu Llacta, with its exceptionally well-preserved layout and architecture, provides an ideal case study," said anthropologist Steven Wernke and engineering professor Julie Adams of Vanderbilt University in an e-mail. "But the scale and complexity of it necessitated a novel approach to mapping. "This project is part of that process, as it will develop free, open source code for flight and imagery capture."

How to Plan a Hiking Trip to Machu Picchu: 5 steps Edit Article Edited by Heather McCurdy, Harri, Teresa, Machupicchuholidays and 1 other www.TopTenAwesomeVacations.com found Machu Picchu to be a recurring event on the several of the Top Ten lists - it's one of the best ruins, one of the seven wonders of the world, and hiking the Inca Trail is an awesome pilgrimage. Because of all this, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Piccu is ultimately a 'best in class' trip of a lifetime. Total budget for everything on this trip was approximately $2500 for all airfare, hotels, food, and extras from Seattle, WA . Ad Steps 1Plan a Year in Advance. Tips Layering: This way, as you advance into your hiking and get warmer or colder, you can adjust your clothing to suit.SAVING MONEY TIP: The competition between airlines is tough these days and many airlines may a Fare Guarantee, like Alaska, then keep watching your emails for price drops. Warnings Cotton is not a great fabric for this trip and could even be dangerous. Things You'll Need

Temple of the Condor, Machu Picchu Shared Academics NITLE Shared AcademicsTM models a new approach to liberal education – made possible through strategic collaboration, driven by shared knowledge, and supported by emerging technologies. Campuses learn how inter-institutional academic exchange works by actively participating in it, building the knowledge and experience to re-architect liberal education. View all seminars » Shared Practice NITLE Shared PracticeTM connects campuses with leading practices for integrating technology into liberal education. Use our self-assessment tool » Find a subject-area specialist » The Commons The Academic Commons provides leaders and innovators with a venue for exchanging ideas about the strategic integration of inquiry, pedagogy, and technology in liberal education. Join the AC beta site » Addressing MOOCs MOOCs: Opportunities, Impacts, and Challenges, by Michael Nanfito, available in print and Kindle formats »

Colosseum The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo) is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone,[1] it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world.[2] The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators,[6][7] and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin. Name History Ancient Medieval Modern Exterior

Moray (Inca ruin) Moray or Muray (Quechua)[1] is an archaeological site in Peru approximately 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Cuzco on a high plateau at about 3500 m (11,500 ft) and just west of the village of Maras. The site contains unusual Inca ruins, mostly consisting of several enormous terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is about 30 m (98 ft) deep. The purpose of these depressions is uncertain, but their depth and orientation with respect to wind and sun creates a temperature difference of as much as 15 °C (27 °F) between the top and bottom. During the rainy season of 2009/10, the region of Cusco received higher levels of precipitation than normal, which caused permanent damage to the ruins of Moray. According to travel writer Paul Jones,[2] "Although repair work at Moray continues to restore the site to its original state, lack of funds and continuing annual rainfall hinder progress. Vertical archipelago Coordinates:

How to Travel to Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is Peru's most famous tourist attraction and one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World." Located high in the Andes Mountains of South America, the Machu Picchu ruins lure visitors from around the globe. Travel options to Machu Picchu are a bit limited because of the remote location and extreme altitude. Step 1 Travel by train from the highland city of Cuzco to the base of Machu Picchu. The ride from the city of Cuzco to Aguas Calientes takes around four hours on this train, as opposed to 3.5 hours on the other two trains. Step 2 Take the bus from the town of Aguas Calientes up the mountain to the Machu Picchu ruins. Step 3 Hike to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail. The daily number of hikers allowed to access the trail is restricted, and the Peruvian government requires travelers to obtain a permit in advance in order to undertake this trek. About the Author David Thyberg began his writing career in 2007.

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal (/ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/ often /ˈtɑːʒ/;,[2] from Persian and Arabic,[3][4] "crown of palaces", pronounced [ˈt̪aːdʒ mɛˈɦɛl]; also "the Taj"[5]) is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".[6] Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.[7][8] In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Origin and inspiration Taj Mahal site plan. Should guilty seek asylum here, Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin. The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Tomb Northern view, from across the river Yamuna Exterior decoration

Travel views: September 22 to 28, 2012 Emailed by Carole and Alex Grenfell, who win two flights to Belfast from London Southend More feedback from our readers Making the most of Machu Picchu Your writer is correct to say you need to spend a night in Aguas Calientes in order to climb Huayna Picchu, but don’t be put off by his daunting description of the climb. As long as you are there before 10am you will have a good chance of being one of the first 400 allowed admission; the steel cables he mentions are hand rails to help you up the steps, some of which are very high. If you want to do the climb, take it slowly and you will have no problem. It is 40 years since my wife and I visited Machu Picchu. Do not underestimate the effects of altitude sickness. When I visited Machu Picchu I had an old pull-out supplement from National Geographic showing on one side the ruins as they are and on the other the city as it might have been when still inhabited. Tastes of Amsterdam Costly UK hotels Safe in Hong Kong How to enter From easyJet

Introduction in Machu Picchu at Frommer 0Google + The stunning Peruvian site of Machu Picchu, the fabled "lost city of the Incas," is South America's greatest attraction, drawing ever-increasing numbers of visitors from across the globe. The Incas hid Machu Picchu so well that it escaped destruction by the empire-raiding Spaniards, which preserved its aura of mystery and magic. Active Pursuits The grassy terraces and stone staircases of Machu Picchu lure you to explore and view the Royal and Sacred Areas, including the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana -- the most important shrine of the ancient site. Tours Many visitors to Machu Picchu come on the train from Cusco, where you can purchase a package including round-trip train tickets, bus to the ruins, an English-speaking guide and lunch. Where to Stay and Dine To stay right at the site, there's only one option: the plush Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, perched outside the entrance to the ruins.

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