Machu Picchu explained to kids

Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan city that is located in present-day Peru. The city is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River in the Andes Mountains. It is believed that Machu Picchu was built as a royal estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti around 1450. The city was later abandoned, and its existence was unknown to the outside world until it was rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Machu Picchu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The site is notable for its well-preserved architecture and for its stunning location in the midst of a tropical mountain forest. The city has three main sections: the agricultural terraces, the urban area, and the sacred area. The agricultural terraces were used to grow crops, and the urban area was home to the city's residents. The sacred area contained temples and other religious buildings. The Inca built Machu Picchu using a technique called ashlar masonry, in which large stones are cut to fit together perfectly without the use of mortar. This technique allowed them to create buildings that were extremely strong and resistant to earthquakes. Today, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.