July 24, 1911.
Searching for the famous "lost" cities
of the Inca empire in Peru, American
archeologist Hiram Bingham and his team laid eyes upon the ancient settlement for the first time.
Guided by locals and an 11-year-old boy,
the team scaled the mountain ridge of
Machu Picchu ("Old Peak" in the
Quechua language).
The multi-level site
extends over five miles.
Thought to have been a summer retreat for
Inca leaders, its many levels are connected
by more than 3,000 stone steps.
Since its "discovery" by the
American team, Machu Picchu
has become one of the world's
top tourist destinations.
More than 300,000 people travel to the ancient marvel every year.