ENGLISH

“TOURIST PLACES OF AMERICA”

By: Adriana Gabriela Zena

Grade: 6 A - II

IGUAZU FALLS

Iguazu Falls, are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentina province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the city of Curitiba. For most of its course, the river flows through Brazil, however, most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil. The name "Iguazu" comes from the Guarani or Tupi words y" meaning "water", and "ûasú , meaning "big“. Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.The first European to record the existence of the falls was the Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541.

CUSCO

MACHUPICCHU Located 120 Km of the city of the Cusco and at 2.400 m.a.s.l, the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu lies at the top of a mountain with the same name, several constructions standing in one of the world's most spectacular natural sceneries: the Cloud Forest. The perfection of its walls overflows the limits of imagination.

The precise function of this city is still unknown. Several hypotheses appoint to ceremonial purposes as well as defense against the Antis attacks, or as a resting residence for the Inca. The only sure thing is that the citadel has the characteristics of a fortress due to its extremely difficult access.

Visit to important places like the Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun or Koricancha and the archaeological park of Sacsayhuaman (fortress built in the XV century). The tour includes visits to the ruins of Qenko (Temple of the God Puma), Pucapucara (fortress built in the XI century) and Tambomachay (Temple to render cult to the God Water).

Chichen Itza, Outstanding Maya Capital City Chichen Itza city was the most important capital city of the Maya area in the Classic period and the beginning of Post Classic. When

Spaniards arrived, it was the most visited center of cult and pilgrimage of Yucatan Peninsula. Chichen Itza and the Cenote of Sacrifices were, and still are, sacred centers for the Maya.

This is a Cultural Heritage Zone of Mexico, and due to its importance was inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988.

Chichen Itza holds uttermost valuable information of Pre Hispanic past. Due to its beauty and singularity, it is a cultural referent for Mexicans and a symbol of national and indigenous identity.

As the pole of tourist attraction it has become, Chichen Itza faces the great challenge of achieving sustainable development and at the same time, guarantee the integral conservation of the legacy of generations to come.

The area that can be visited is 47 hectares long, but the protected zone of Chichen Itza is more than 15 square kilometers, and includes all of the monumental buildings of the city. This delimitation is known as Protection Polygonal.