The Inca Trail Passes Through Cuenca

Avenida Loja in the city of Cuenca is part of the Inca Trail.... more

by Al Bourassa

Title

The Inca Trail Passes Through Cuenca

Artist

Al Bourassa

Medium

Photograph - Photographic Artworks

Description

Avenida Loja in the city of Cuenca is part of the Inca Trail.
Ecuador has just landed its fifth attraction on UNESCO�s list of World Heritage Sites. After Quito, the Galapagos Islands, Sangay National Park, and Cuenca, the country now shares in a newly minted World Heritage Site: Qhapaq �an, an ancient Andean road system developed by Map-Qhapaq-Nan (unesco)the Incas centuries ago, was recently approved by UNESCO for inclusion on the World Heritage list. This ancient road system, commonly referred to as the Inca Trail, covers approximately 30,000 kilometers (about 18,640 miles) in a network of roads across six South American nations: from Colombia in the north, through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia down to Argentina and Chile. Construction of the roads extended over many years and assimilated some pre-Inca trails, but the network reached its greatest size and importance in the 15th century. At the center of it all lay Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire. The Qhapaq �an connected Cuzco to production, administrative, and ceremonial sites all over the empire. UNESCO identified 273 component sites along the Inca Trail that highlight the social, political, architectural, and engineering achievements of the network. These sites provided the necessary infrastructure for trade, as well as cultural and religious celebrations. The roads run through areas and terrain that are as diverse as the general geography of South America: from low-lying coastal regions through lush rainforests and fertile valleys to the snow-capped Andes at altitudes of more than 6,000 meters. While somemachupicchu parts of the network have fallen into disrepair or disappeared entirely, many of the trail sections are still in use today, some for local trading or transportation, others simply for hiking.
See more info at http://positivturismo.com/en/2014/06/inca-trail-qhapaq-nan/
This artwork is derived from a photograph taken looking towards the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in El Centro Sept 1/13 in Cuenca, Ecuador, South America nestled in the Andes Mountains.
NOTE that the Fine Art America watermark will NOT appear on any purchased product.
All work is copyright protected and may not be used in any way without purchase.
I do hope you enjoy my work. Comments are graciously accepted. Favoring is greatly appreciated and will garner a response. Purchases are fantastic!
You may see more artwork for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com/

Uploaded

July 29th, 2014