Machu Picchu Main Lawn

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World Travel Guide Home - Antarctica, Alaska, Australia, China, Galapagos, Peru, Maui, Greece, Israel, USA
Peruvian Amazon photos - tropical birds, Amazon rainforest
Peruvian Amazon photos - tropical birds, Amazon rainforest
Cusco, Peru - Sacsayhuaman, Pikillaqta, Tipon, Pisaq, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Q'enqo
Cusco, Peru - Sacsayhuaman, Pikillaqta, Tipon, Pisaq, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Q'enqo
Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Machu Picchu Incan ruins Peru
Map of Peru button
Map of Peru button
Peru Travel FAQ
Peru Travel FAQ
Peru Travel Preparation
Peru Travel Preparation
Sacred Valley, Peru - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Pisac
Sacred Valley, Peru - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Pisac
Peru Panorama Photos
Peru Panorama Photos
Downtown Cusco
Downtown Cusco
Plants and Scenery in the Amazon River Basin
Plants and Scenery in the Amazon River Basin
Accommodations in the Amazon River Basin
Accommodations in the Amazon River Basin
Fish, lizards, and other miscellaneous animals of the Amazon River Basin
Fish, lizards, and other miscellaneous animals of the Amazon River Basin
Parrots, Macaws, and other birds of the Amazon River Basin
Parrots, Macaws, and other birds of the Amazon River Basin
Butterflies and other Bugs of the Amazon River Basin
Butterflies and other Bugs of the Amazon River Basin
Getting around in the Amazon River Basin
Getting Around in the Amazon River Basin
Mammals of the Amazon River Basin
Mammals of the Amazon River Basin
Quenqo Incan ruins outside of Cusco, Peru
Sacsaywaman / Sacsayhuaman Incan ruins atop Cusco, Peru
Sacsaywaman / Sacsayhuaman Incan ruins atop Cusco, Peru
Tambomachay Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Tambomachay Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Tipon Incan fountain ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Tipon Incan fountain ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Pikillaqta Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Pikillaqta Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Puca Pucara Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Puca Pucara Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Quenqo Incan ruins outside of Cusco, Peru
Moray Incan agricultural experimental grounds, Sacred Valley Peru
Ollantaytambo Royal Incan ruins along Urubamba River, Peru
Ollantaytambo Royal Incan ruins along Urubamba River, Peru
Pisac Incan ruins in the Sacred Vallley Outside Cusco along Urubamba River, Peru
Pisac Incan ruins in the Sacred Vallley Outside Cusco along Urubamba River, Peru
Road out of Cusco and into the Sacred Valley
Road out of Cusco and into the Sacred Valley
Moray Incan agricultural experimental grounds, Sacred Valley Peru
Scenic views from Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Scenic views from Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Watchman's Hut at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Watchman's Hut at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Wayna Picchu hike overlooking Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Wayna Picchu hike overlooking Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Common District housing in Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Common District housing in Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Machu Picchu spring-fed fountains, Peru
Machu Picchu spring-fed fountains, Peru
Main lawn at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Main lawn at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Royal sector of Machu PIcchu Incan ruins, Peru
Royal sector of Machu PIcchu Incan ruins, Peru
Train to Machu Picchu Incan Ruins, Peru
Train to Machu Picchu Incan Ruins, Peru
Brief History of the Inca Empire
Brief History of the Inca Empire
The wide open space on Machu Picchu is the Main Lawn. It's not clear whether this was used for agriculture, ceremony, or decoration.
Temples of Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Temples of Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru

Llamas roam freely around the ancient city. They are actually landscapers that eat the vegetation before it can get out of hand. I heard that if you took all the llamas away and stopped all plant maintenance, that the entire site would be swallowed in vegetation and lost again within the year. That's actually not surprising for a rainforest.

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Landscaper llamas trim the Machu Picchu vegetation so that it doesn't quickly get out of hand.

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There is a lone tree almost in the center of Machu Picchu that is popular with tourists that want to relax for a while.

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In this shot from the lawn you can see the Watchman's Hut on the left atop the agricultural terraces. The collection of structures in the center-left is the Royal Sector. If the picture were to stretch more to the right you would see the Temple of the Three Windows, and if it were to stretch more to the left you would see the lone tree.

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There's a lot to see in this picture. At the center top is Machu Picchu, the peak. The Watchman's Hut is at the top of the main agricultural terraces. The collection of buildings kind of in the lower/center right is the Royal Sector. You can see the lone tree at the bottom. And way beyond the pink bushes on the left are the Houses of the Terrace Caretakers where you enter the city. You can also barely make out a slightly declining notch in the mountain just above the pink blossoms - that's the Inca trail.

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