Machu Picchu, Peru, A Few Million Years Ago

Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay


A few million years ago the site of Machu Picchu may have looked like this. The Andes were already a rugged mountain range and the Urubamba flowed at the bottom of a deep valley.

The ruins of Machu Picchu are at 13o 09' 48" S, 72o 32' 46" W. The sharp peak beyond the ruins is at 13o 09' 20" S, 72o 32' 49" W. The steep rounded ridge beyond the river is at 13o 10' 53" S, 72o 31' 37" W.

Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, Peru, After Accelerated Uplift


Original Scenes

(author's image)

(author's image)

Possible Coloring


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Created 25 November 2005, Last Update 15 January 2020