“Machu Picchu garbage crisis”: famous landmark may be excluded from the UNESCO list due to tourists

One of the most famous historical sites in the world is under threat due to the garbage crisis. Machu Picchu is in danger due to the waste of tourists.

The situation, dubbed the “Machu Picchu garbage crisis,” is important for the ancient site’s tourism future, and for preserving its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Machu Picchu – Inca citadel, part of the property of the emperor, left in the middle of the XVI century after the Spanish conquest Peru. Its massive stone walls are an architectural miracle.

Every year, about 1.6 million tourists from around the world visit Machu Picchu, despite the restrictive measures of the authorities. The popularity of the historic site has led to a waste crisis in the area. Visitors often leave garbage, mostly plastic water bottles, creating a serious problem.

The fight against garbage is complicated by the lack of roads. The problem has become so acute that two years ago UNESCO threatened to strip Machu Picchu of its World Heritage status. Now there are real fears that he may lose this prestigious status. Rare flora and fauna of the area suffer from garbage.

A solution was offered by the local community: to create a waste processing complex, but because of the law on municipal planning, large-scale construction is prohibited. Now a private processing plant, engaged in processing.

Municipal authorities are urging tourists bringing water bottles to pick them up after visiting Machu Picchu. Water distribution stations will be installed around Aguas Calientes to reduce the need for plastic bottles left in the city, which have become one of the main causes of the crisis.

Source: tourprom