Google Street View takes on Machu Picchu

3 Dec 2015

So Google Street View’s ongoing mission to make pretty much every landmark accessible from the comfort of your own couch has just taken it up a notch, with Peruvian UNESCO Heritage Site Machu Picchu now captured in all its glory.

A few months ago, a redditor posted up images of the “Google Maps guy” pottering around Machu Picchu, with it only a matter of time before the Peru site joined the likes of Loch Ness and El Capitan in getting the full Street View Experience.

And now, with thanks to a Guardian report on the entire activity, we can bask in the glory of one of the seven wonders of the world.

Machu Picchu stands almost 2.5km above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, with ridiculous views all round.

According to Google, and who are we to argue, “it was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height”.

An incredible citadel, hidden atop the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu looks down on the Urubamba River valley – one of numerous, astonishing views.

Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it is on the list of many a backpacker’s travel goals. But enough about that, here are some images:

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Oh, and here is Google Street View’s valiant attempt to disprove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Nice try guys, but we know it exists…

Gordon Hunt was a journalist with Silicon Republic

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