摘要：Machu Picchu, often called the "Lost City of the Incas," is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Located high

Machu Picchu, often called the "Lost City of the Incas," is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, at an altitude of about 2,430 meters above sea level, it was built by the Inca Empire around the 15th century. However, it was abandoned just a century later, likely due to the Spanish conquest, and remained unknown to the outside world until 1911, when it was rediscovered by the American historian Hiram Bingham.

The site is renowned for its extraordinary architectural precision: massive stone blocks are fitted together so tightly that not even a piece of paper can slip between them, yet no mortar was used. Machu Picchu served multiple purposes—some researchers believe it was a royal retreat for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, while others think it had religious or astronomical significance, as its structures align with key celestial events like solstices.

Today, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It attracts millions of visitors each year, who come to marvel at its stunning mountain setting and the ingenuity of the Inca civilization.

马丘比丘，常被称为 “印加失落之城”，是世界上最著名的考古遗址之一。它坐落于秘鲁的安第斯山脉高处，海拔约 2430 米，由印加帝国在 15 世纪左右建造。然而，仅仅一个世纪后，它便被遗弃了 —— 原因很可能与西班牙征服有关。直到 1911 年，美国历史学家海勒姆・宾厄姆重新发现了它，在此之前，它一直不为外界所知。

该遗址以其非凡的建筑精度而闻名：巨大的石块拼接得极为紧密，连一张纸都无法插入缝隙，且建造时未使用任何灰浆。马丘比丘具有多种用途 —— 一些研究人员认为它是印加皇帝帕查库蒂的皇家休养地，另一些人则认为它具有宗教或天文意义，因为其建筑结构与冬至等重要天体事件的轨迹相吻合。

如今，马丘比丘是联合国教科文组织世界遗产，也是 “世界新七大奇迹” 之一。每年吸引数百万游客前来，惊叹于它壮丽的山地环境以及印加文明的非凡智慧。

来源：哎呀喂英语