The Lost City of Incas: Machu Picchu

Over 500 years ago, there was a great civilization called ‘Inca’. They lived in South America. The Inca used stone to build their cities with wonderful buildings but without walls around them. Instead they made fortresses. When there was a danger, the people could hide in the fortresses near each city.

The most famous Inca City was Machu Picchu. It is high on the mountain in Peru. It was known by only local people until 1911, when an American famous archaeologist, Hiram Bingham visited Peru and saw the ruins of this ancient city. After his visit, he wrote an article about Machu Picchu in National Geographic magazine. Only then did the rest of the world know about this spectacular city.

Explorers and archaeologists went to Machu Picchu and discovered palaces, fortresses and the remains of stone aqueducts. Water was brought through these aqueducts from rivers to the city. The city’s walls and streets are like a stone maze for people to walk through. There are still some mysterious things about Machu Picchu. For example; why Incas stopped living there has remained unknown. All we know is that Incas didn’t write but they built amazing cities.