About Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu is a stunning royal estate built by the Inca Empire around 1450, perched high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Its stone buildings were constructed with such precision that many walls still stand today without any mortar holding the stones together. The site remained largely unknown outside Peru until 1911. Earthquake-Resistant Stonework — Its precise stone-fitting helps buildings flex and resettle during earthquakes instead of collapsing.

Location: Cusco Region, Peru · Built: Around 1450 AD · Elevation: 2,430 m (7,970 ft) · Purpose: Royal estate & religious site · Builder: The Inca Empire · Materials: Dry stone (ashlar) walls · Unesco Status: World Heritage Site since 1983 · Rediscovery: Brought to fame in 1911 · Visitors: Over 1 million per year Many hike the famous Inca Trail to reach it.