The palaces, temples and homes of Machu Picchu sit 2,430 meters above sea level, high in the Andes. It's no wonder they call it "The Lost City of the Incas" 😍
It was built as a sacred mountain retreat for the great Inca ruler Pachacuti — a century before his empire fell, so around 1440 AD. The city remained in use until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the empire's territory.
And here's where things get really intriguing: in 1532, all of its inhabitants mysteriously vanished. 😯 It's believed that up to 1,200 people once lived there.
