Kuelap Fortress, Chachapoyas, Peru
The Chachapoyas Culture (known as the Cloud Forest people): Little is currently known of this culture, although it was one of the most advanced civilizations to develop in the tropical jungle region of Peru. One of the most outstanding archaeological remains of this culture, Kuelap, was discovered by a local resident in 1843.
Experts agree that the monumental aspects of Kuelap can only compare in size and grandeur to Machu Picchu in Peru, and the greater archaeological sites in the Americas. Kuelap's constructio nis presumed to have taken at least 200 years to complete and millions of cubic feet of stone. This colossal construction was not known by the spanish conquistadores;Kuelap's strategic location between the Marańon and Utcubamba Rivers, both long tributaries of the Amazon River, protected it from being devastated. The area is surrounded by profuse vegetation with huge trees, covered with bromeliads and orchids that add to its spectacular nature.
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Kuelap lies 9,843 feet above sea level (3,000 masl), 3 miles (5 km) from the town of Tingo, and one hour by land from Chachapoyas. The climb is a 3 or 4-hour hike, or it can be done on horseback. The structure of the main building is circular and for security purposes has only one access corridor, sufficiently narrow to allow only one person at a time to enter. Inside there are several divisions, hundreds of round stone houses decorated with zigzag patterns, up to 1,969 feet (600 m) long and 66 feet (20m) high. Towers indicate how well protected the compound was. It comprised more than 400 buildings, many of them with decorated walls and cornices or protruding friezes.
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