Machu Picchu Discovery

Machu Picchu is a famous old city built high in the Andes Mountains. It was made by the Inca people over 500 years ago. The city sits on a mountaintop about 8,000 feet above the sea. For hundreds of years, it was hidden by plants and clouds. Few people knew it was there.

The Inca City

The Inca built Machu Picchu around the year 1450. It has stone temples, houses, and farming steps called terraces. The Inca fit huge stones together without using any glue or cement. The city even had fresh water brought in from a nearby spring. It was a very special place for the Inca people.

The amazing stone city of Machu Picchu high in the mountains.
The amazing stone city of Machu Picchu high in the mountains. (Draceane / Wikimedia Commons)

Finding It Again

In 1911, an American named Hiram Bingham climbed the mountain with a local guide. He found Machu Picchu covered in thick jungle plants. News of the discovery spread around the world. Today, people clean and care for the ruins. Over a million visitors come to see Machu Picchu every year.

Fun Facts

  • Machu Picchu has over 150 buildings made of stone.
  • Llamas still walk around the ruins today.
  • The name Machu Picchu means 'old mountain' in the Quechua language.

Did You Know?

Machu Picchu was never found by the Spanish explorers who took over the Inca empire. That is why the city was so well preserved.