WHC Nomination Documentation File name: 274.pdf UNESCO Region LATIN AMERICAN AND THE CARIBBEAN SITE NAME ("TITLE") Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu DATE OF INSCRIPTION ("SUBJECT") 9/12/1983 STATE PARTY ("AUTHOR") PERU CRITERIA ("KEY WORDS") N (ii)(iii) C (i)(iii) DECISION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE: 7th Session The Committee noted that this site is inscribed for both its cultural and natural values, as this property also meets natural criteria (ii) and (iii). The Committee furthermore recommended that to enhance the cultural and natural value of this property, the site should be extended to include the lower courses of the Urubamba River and the sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the "Valley of the Gods". BRIEF DESCRIPTION: At 2,430 metres above sea level, on a mountain site of extraordinary beauty, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, Machu Picchu was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height, with its giant walls, terraces and ramps, which appear as though they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting on the eastern slope of the Andes encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of species. 1.b. State, province or region: The historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu is situated on the left bank of the Vilcanota river, between its tributaries the Kusichaca and Aobamba rivers, in the department of Cuzco, Urubamba Province, District of Macchu Picchu. 1.d Exact location: The archaeological complex of Macchu Picchu, located within the sanctuary, lies to the northwest of the city of Cuzco, at 112,5 km distance by railway. Lat. 13°07' S ; Long. 72°35' W f:/inhouse/DocCen/doc-archive.doc .