Photo Machu Picchu #1 by Sabirjan Kurmayev

Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Pikchu, "Old Peak") is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,400 meters (7,875 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. The river is a partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu probably is the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

It was built around the year 1460, but was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Although known locally, it was said to have been forgotten for centuries when the site was brought to worldwide attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction.

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and it is considered a sacred place.

published:

mon 3 Nov 2008 08:12

permanent link:

https://www.photoforum.ru/photo/466353/

comments (15 from 33)

all comments descending

Detlev Reimann #1 mon 3 Nov 2008 10:24

very nice motive and landscape, interesing history

but i think the image is "over sharpen".

Sabirjan Kurmayev #14 Thu 6 Nov 2008 04:31

Thank you, Detlev!

The image has not been as much oversharpened as, kind of, treated with color saturation for the simple reason that the scene was rainy and foggy when I was taking picture.

Natasha V. #2 mon 3 Nov 2008 12:45

Интересно горы выглядят - как вертикально воткнутые в землю обломки. Фактурный снимок

Sabirjan Kurmayev #15 Thu 6 Nov 2008 04:32

Спасибо, Наташа!

Горы интересные. Кроме всего прочего они покрыты тропической растительностью.

Tatyana Savvateeva #3 mon 3 Nov 2008 20:17

Потрясающий вид... Особенно с этим одиноким деревцем, которое заставляет звучать всю композицию... И с этими облаками между горами... Захватывающее зрелище. И спасибо большое за интересный рассказ!