Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru: Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery. Wikipedia
Map of the disputed territory of Acre, claimed by Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, before a settlement where Brazil purchased the land.
The territory of Acre was recognized by Brazil as Bolivian, despite Peru also claiming the land. Tensions rose in the late 19th century however as the Amazon region became economically important due to the rubber boom, with many Brazilian settlers occupying lands in the Amazon to work on rubber extraction.
Bolivia lacked a military presence or its own settlers in the region, causing a huge influx of Brazilians that dominated the territory. Those Brazilians resented Bolivian attempts to tax or regulate them, and on three occasions rose up against Bolivia to establish an independent state and seek annexation into Brazil.
This caused a huge diplomatic incident between the countries that was resolved in 1903, with Bolivia agreeing to transfer the territory to Brazil in exchange for infrastructure works, financial compensation and access to the Amazon River to reach the Atlantic. A few years later Brazil reached an agreement with Peru for recognition of Brazilian sovereignty in Acre and the delimitation of borders between the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazons.
(Nov. 29) Indigenous Group Wins Fight to Reclaim Ancestral Land After Being Forced Out 8 Decades Ago
In a major victory for Indigenous rights, an Ecuadorian appeals court has sided with the Siekopai Nation to regain ownership of their ancestral homeland in the Amazon rainforest. The Siekopai people were forced out of their territory, called Pë’këya, over 80 years ago during the Peru-Ecuador War in the 1940s. This ruling will mark the first time the Ecuadorian government grants a land title to an Indigenous community whose ancestral land is now a protected area.
The Siekopai are on the brink of extinction with a population of only 800 people in Ecuador and 1,200 in Peru. In a statement, Siekopai Nation President Elias Piyahuaje said, “We are fighting for the preservation of our culture on this planet. Without this territory, we cannot exist as Siekopai people. Today is a great day for our nation. Until the end of time, this land will be ours.”
Machu Picchu, Perú's Sacred Valley, Peru: Machu Picchu is situated above a loop of the Urubamba River, which surrounds the site on three sides, with cliffs dropping vertically for 450 metres.