MachuPicchu The ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu high up in the Andes mountains of Peru was discovered in 1911. Archaeologists were amazed at what they found... ruins of temples, a royal palace and even the remains of an aqueduct that brought water to the city. Most amazing of all, they found an intihuatana, a pyramid the Incas constructed to speak to their gods. The city was built about 500 years ago for the Inca emperor and was inhabited for just 100 years until the Spanish conquered the country. Today Machu Picchu, which is part of the Inca Trail, is Peru’s top tourist attraction.
StatueofChristtheRedeemer This statue was built in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1931 as a symbol of peace. Perched on a mountain overlooking the city it is nearly 40 metres tall and took nine years to construct. The statue, which weighs over 600 tonnes, is made of concrete to support the statue’s outstretched arms. It is one of the largest statues in the world. In 2008, the statue was struck by lightning which damaged the fingers and head.