Every day Peru`s Machu Picchu , the Lost City of the Inkas, is discovered by at least 10 000 tourists who are slowly destroing one of the wonders of the world.Most people now come to this sacred citael in a week than ever lived there in its 15th century prime.The attempt to improve facities for international visitors-better hotels, a helicopter service and a planned cable car to replace the bus trip up the mountain-has only made the wear and tear worse.
For nearly 500 years Machu Picchu was covered by impenetrable rainforests until in 1911 ,an American scholar-explorer Hiram Bingham, stumbled upon it whilst he was looking for Vilacamba, the refuge of the Inkas, from the Spanish conquerors.
It`s easy to see why so many want to flock here.the sight of the emerald green grass slopes and stone-coloured remains of Machu Pichu, flanked by its awesome, snow-capped peaks , is utterly breathtaking.
It seems now, howevwr , that Machu Picchu is falling victim to its own success.The primary concern is harming the site`s infrastucture.A survey by Japanese geologists at Kyoto University has suggested the earth beneath the city is mooving at a rate of up to 1cm per moonth.
There are also fears for the welfare of the porters who carry travellr`s backpacks in all weathers along the high altitude Ica Trail.