Machu Picchu is the most eloquent example: instead of avoiding seismic faults, they deliberately chose to build the city right on a crossroads of X-shaped geological fractures. A choice that, at first glance, might seem imprudent, but it proved extraordinarily effective.
The faults allowed them to work the stone more easily, but above all, they pushed the Incas to develop construction techniques that still amaze today. The inwardly sloping walls, rounded corners, and perfectly interlocking blocks create a system capable of absorbing earthquake vibrations without collapsing. It's as if the entire city were designed to sway with the mountain rather than resist its movements.
The chosen location is no less ingenious: the ridge on which Machu Picchu stands protects it from landslides and floods, while a complex drainage system manages the region's torrential rains. Every element of the landscape has been interpreted, understood, and exploited with a precision that reveals a profound knowledge of the environment.
When we talk about Machu Picchu, we often think of its beauty or its mystery. But its true strength lies in the perfect balance between human ingenuity and nature, a silent dialogue that has allowed the city to endure for centuries, suspended between sky and mountain.
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