Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku is the name of the oldest city located in Bolivia. This settlement was located less than 100 km from La Paz, near Lake Titicaca. Historical excavations confirm that Tiwanaku was formed 1500 BC. This city was considered the heart of the state, with close to 40,000 people concentrated here.

The ruins of Tiwanaku were found 20 km from the water, although the city was once very conveniently located near the shore of the lake and had large berths. This ancient settlement, as expected, has many different legends and mythical stories. One of these legends says that the settlement appeared before the stars lit up in the sky. Tiwanaku is also attributed to an alien origin, whose territory was inhabited by creatures completely unlike humanity, in whose veins even such blood flowed. They settled here from another planet as soon as they spotted a high-altitude body of water. According to the literature, it was here that the Inca nation originated.

Many of the structures of Tiwanaku have not been preserved to our time, but those ruins that have been preserved impress even tourists who are far from beginners. The "Gate of the Sun" is located here and is known all over the world. This structure is a huge heavy monolith, weighing close to 10 tons. There is an image of the Sun god on the gate. Most scientists believe that this ancient architectural work of the Incas served as a calendar, which is scheduled for 21 thousand years. There are huge seven-meter sculptures near the famous gates. There is also an architectural structure called the pyramid of Akapan, which is known as "The place where people die." This multi-level stepped structure, the base of which is 230 meters, towered 15 meters above the city. The pyramid merged with the local temple, half of which was underground. There was a terrace on the top of the pyramid, where an oval-shaped recess was laid out with stone, intended for a reservoir. Kalasasaya was located on the northern part of Akapan, which is a rather mysterious ancient structure. This ensemble of buildings consists of pillars of various heights, the space between which is filled with treated stone. There is also an underground structure with columns and the same filled space. The purpose of such a structure is most likely of a ritual nature.

A distinctive feature of all the excavated structures of Tiwanaku are strict geometric lines and a clear layout. Various platforms were created by filling and reinforcing stones on various natural hills.

The ancient city of Tiwanaku is one of the most significant cultural attractions of the country. Tourists from many countries come here to see the mysterious ruins, which are more than one million years old.