What is special about the stone walls of Machu Picchu?

They fit together without mortar

Machu Picchu Quiz: The Lost City of the Incas

This Machu Picchu quiz climbs into the Andes of Peru to explore the Inca citadel built for the emperor Pachacuti, its expert stonework, Hiram Bingham's 1911 visit, the Inca Trail from Cusco, the peak of Huayna Picchu, the Temple of the Sun and the llamas that roam its terraces. Ten questions.

Start Machu Picchu Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Location
Machu Picchu is located in which country?
History
Which civilization built Machu Picchu in the 15th century?
Discovery
Which American explorer brought Machu Picchu to world attention in 1911?
Building
What is special about the stone walls of Machu Picchu?
Hiking
Which famous multi-day trail leads hikers to Machu Picchu?
Peaks
Which steep peak rises behind the ruins in most classic photos?
Animals
Which animals often wander the grassy terraces of Machu Picchu?
Recognition
In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of what?
Name
What does Machu Picchu mean in the Quechua language?
Buildings
Which curved stone building at Machu Picchu is thought to have been used to observe the sun?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Machu Picchu is located in which country?
Answer: Peru
The site lies in the Andes about 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco, high above the Urubamba River valley.
Q2: Which civilization built Machu Picchu in the 15th century?
Answer: The Incas
It is thought to have been built around 1450 as a royal estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti.
Q3: Which American explorer brought Machu Picchu to world attention in 1911?
Answer: Hiram Bingham
Local farmers already knew the site and guided Bingham there. His photos in National Geographic made it famous.
Q4: What is special about the stone walls of Machu Picchu?
Answer: They fit together without mortar
Inca builders cut stones so precisely that a knife blade cannot fit between some of them. This helped walls survive earthquakes.
Q5: Which famous multi-day trail leads hikers to Machu Picchu?
Answer: The Inca Trail
The classic route takes about four days and ends at the Sun Gate. Permits are limited to protect the trail.
Q6: Which steep peak rises behind the ruins in most classic photos?
Answer: Huayna Picchu
A small number of visitors each day can climb Huayna Picchu's steep stone steps for a view down on the citadel.
Q7: Which animals often wander the grassy terraces of Machu Picchu?
Answer: Llamas
Llamas and alpacas are relatives of camels. The Incas used llamas to carry goods along mountain roads.
Q8: In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of what?
Answer: The New Seven Wonders of the World
It was chosen in a global vote along with sites such as the Great Wall of China and Petra. It has been a UNESCO site since 1983.
Q9: What does Machu Picchu mean in the Quechua language?
Answer: Old mountain
Quechua was the language of the Inca Empire and is still spoken by millions of people in the Andes.
Q10: Which curved stone building at Machu Picchu is thought to have been used to observe the sun?
Answer: The Temple of the Sun
The Temple of the Sun has windows aligned with the sunrise on the June solstice. The Incas worshipped the sun god Inti.

Machu Picchu Quiz – The Citadel in the Clouds

Machu Picchu is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Perched on a mountain ridge about 2,430 meters above sea level in the Andes of Peru, the Inca citadel is surrounded by steep green peaks and often wrapped in clouds. Its dramatic setting and remarkable stonework attract visitors from every corner of the globe.

The Incas built Machu Picchu around 1450, probably as a royal estate for the emperor Pachacuti. It included palaces, temples, homes and farming terraces, all built from stone without mortar. The Incas cut the stones so precisely that they fit together tightly, helping the buildings survive the region's frequent earthquakes.

The site was abandoned around the time of the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, but the Spanish never found it. Local farmers knew of the ruins, and in 1911 they guided the American explorer Hiram Bingham to the site. His photographs, published in National Geographic, made Machu Picchu famous around the world.

Today, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Visitors arrive by train and bus from the town of Aguas Calientes or hike the famous Inca Trail from near Cusco. To protect the ruins, Peru limits the number of daily visitors and sets routes through the site.

This quiz covers the history, architecture and travel highlights of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu was also a place of advanced farming and engineering. Its terraces prevented erosion on the steep slopes and created small fields with their own microclimates. A system of stone channels carried spring water through the city, and drainage layers beneath the ground protected buildings from heavy rain. Archaeologists believe several hundred people lived and worked there when the emperor was in residence.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for travelers, history lovers and anyone fascinated by ancient civilizations.

Where Machu Picchu is and who built it
How Inca builders made walls without mortar
How the site became famous in 1911
How visitors reach the citadel today
What its name means
Its most important buildings

Quick Facts About Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has around 200 buildings and many farming terraces.
The Inca road network stretched about 40,000 kilometers.
The site sits between two mountains, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
The Incas had no written alphabet but recorded information with knotted cords called quipus.
The rainy season runs from about November to March.
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire.