AP+Chuquicamata,+San+Martin+de+los+Andes,+Sascahuaman

=Sacsayhuamán= By: Tyler Hoelscher Sacsayhuamán The capital of the Inca empire was a grand city called Cusco, which was built in the shape of a puma. At the head of this creature was the mighty fortress Sacsayhuamán, which is still known today for its majesty and resilience (Sacsayhuamán & Nearby Ruins). Sacsayhuamán was built from massive stone blocks, some weighing more than large cars, held together by gravity. Since the stones are not uniform in shape, they fit together like a puzzle, making the walls extremely stable (Sacsayhuamán, the Ancient Inca Fortress). It is unknown when Sacsayhuamán was built, but it was sure to have been a monumental task. The Incas at the time possessed only primitive tools, and had not discovered the wheel, making the placement of the massive stones nearly impossible. Even the Incas themselves attributed its construction to giants (Sacsayhuamán, the Ancient Inca Fortress). In 1535, Spanish explorer Pizarro laid siege to the fortress, destroying much of the complex with cannons and eventually won the battle, with much of the fortress lying in ruins. Today only the foundations of the towers are visible, but the great wall still stands untouched by Spanish artillery (Sacsayhuamán & Nearby Ruins). The ruins of the once mighty fortress is now open to the public and is considered one of the great architectural marvels for its primitive but effective construction (Sacsayhuamán, the Ancient Inca Fortress).

Works Cited

"Sacsayhuamán, the Ancient Inca Fortress Near Cuzco, Peru." Rediscover Machu Picchu. 2006. Web. 07 Jan. 2011.

"Sacsayhuaman & Nearby Ruins, Cusco, Peru." Andean Travel Web. Aug. 2008. Web. 07 Jan. 2011.

=San Martin de los Andes= By: Vanessa Hatch



In the middle of Argentina, near the Chile-Argentina border, there is a small town called San Martin de los Andes. Founded in 1898 by Rudecindo Roca, a general in the Argentine army, the valley had long been used by the aborigines as a winter fort before the 3rd regiment came and declared the land taken in the name of the Nation. Because of the remote location, the town's economy consisted mainly of forestry, agriculture and cattle raising (“History of the City”). Certain parts of the village, of course, specialized in different things: the lowlands were suitable for wheat and livestock, the valley near the coast was best for vegetables and fruit trees, and the end of town that was near the lake was considered best for new families and sawmills (“History of the City”). Due to the remoteness of the town, communication with the nearest Argentinian towns was more difficult than communication with Chile. With the nearest Chilean city just across the lake, commerce was much more open and rewarding, thus allowing more of a Chilean influence into the culture of San Martin, an influence that has been handed down through the generations and allowed to flourish to this day in the form of festivals and cultural celebrations (“Art and Culture”).

Works Cited

"Art and Culture - San Martin De Los Andes." //Página Inicial San Martín De Los Andes - San Martin De Los Andes//. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.

"San Martín De Los Andes: History of the City and Legends from the Area." //InterPatagonia.com//. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.

**Chuquicamata** By: Steven Montano

Chuquicamata, the world's largest copper deposit, in northern Chile's Atacama Desert, was mined by the Incas as early as 1536 and was brought to the attention of M. Guggenheim's Sons in 1900 by an employee who reported that it could be purchased for less than $250,000 (History of Coporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile). Chuquicamata the largest open pit copper mine in Chile and the world. Chuquicamata is responsible for  producing more than one-fourth of the nation’s copper (Chuquicamata). This copper mine is one of six copper mines in Chile ands still manages to out produce all of the other mines. Chuquicamata became the world's most productive and profitable copper mine; in 1923, it produced refined copper for less than six cents a pound-the lowest price in the world (History of Coporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile). Chuquicamata has not looked back since becoming the worlds most profitable copper mine, since 1968 Chuquicamata has been responsible for 500,000-ton annual copper production (Chuquicamta).

Works Cited

"Chuquicamata." //Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.

"History of Coporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile." //Reference for Business.// Web. 11 Jan. 2011

