The site is renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone construction, which fuses huge blocks without the use of mortar, and its panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Machu Picchu, one of the most famous ancient ruins in the world, is located in Peru. This 15th-century Inca citadel sits atop a mountain ridge in the Andes, about 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level.

Believed to have been built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, Machu Picchu was largely unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. The site is renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone construction, which fuses huge blocks without the use of mortar, and its panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Today, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the rich cultural history of the Inca civilization.