THE SACRED GEOGRAPHY OF TIWANAKU ,AND THE EERIE VALLEY OF THE MOON

TIWANAKU

Set on the Altiplano

50 miles west of La Paz, the ancient ruined city of Tiwanaku is one of the most monumental and intriguing archeological sites in South America. Founded in 1500BC, Tiwanaku became the capital of a massive empire that lasted almost a 1,000 years, develooping into a sophisticated urban ceremonial complex that at its peak was the thome to some 50,000 people whose great pyramids and opulent palaces were painted in bright colors and inlaid with gold.

It was the cradle of the Andean civilization, making an enormous cultural impact throughout the empire, and providing inspiration to the better known Inca civilization. 

The area covers some 36,000 square miles extending out from the lake between Bolivia's Cordillera Real and Peru and Chile's Cordillera Occidental - all sections of the Andes. 

The city was deserted mainly to climate change , famine, and drought. Most of the destruction of the remains where when the Spanish came here and looted the site to build churches. 

AKAPANA

The big mound is a great earth pyramid with seven terraced platforms faced with stone. This was the biggest structure in the complex, measuring about 1900 feet by 1500 feet, and thought to be 20 feet tall. 

KALASASAYA

Next to Akapana, to the north, is Kalasasya, a walled temple compound that's thought to have been the sacred center of Tiwanaku. The stone walls of the complex are among the most impressive masonry still standing. 

PUERTA DEL SOL

Set into Kalassaya's northeastern corner is the iconic Puerta del Sol - the Gateway of the Sun.

Very elaborately decorated portico carved from a single piece of rock weighing 10 tons. 

The Aymara god Thunupa and the Inca god

Viracocha is a monument to these two gods. 

PUMA PUNKU

Set apart from the main complex, some 2 miles on the other side of the road are the ruins of another major pyramid, Puma Punko - the Gateway of the Puma.

It was believed to have been built some 200 years later around 700 AD. The skill of the masonry is impressive considering there were no iron tools during this time. 

TEMPLETE SEMI-SUBTERRANEO

A sunken rectangular patio about 6 feet deep whose walls are studded with almost two hundred carved stone heads, which jut out like keystones. These are thought to be gods of different ethnic groups. 

A replica of what the pyramid may have looked like. 

We met three women workers who shared their lunch of fried egg, potato,and beans with us. 

VALLE DE LA LUNA

The stretch of eerie, cactus-strewn badlands around Mallasa is known as the valley of the moon.

Scarred by deep canyons and strange formations of clay and rock carved by seasonal rains into pinnacles resembling church organ pipes.

It reminded me of Cappadocia, Turkey. 

The highest golf course in the world!!

OUR FRIEND DIRECTING TRAFFIC!!!