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 Mountains were especially sacred. Snow-capped peaks were seen as the only dependable source of precious water in a land of scarce and unpredictable rainfall. According to Inka beliefs, melted snow flowed from mountain springs to the sacred Urubamba River and on into the ocean. From there, it rose up into the sky and flowed in the heavenly version of the Urubamba, the Milky Way, until it was time for it to return to the earth as rainfall. Because of their important place in this vital cycle, mountains were fervently worshiped. Religion surely played a large part in Pachacuti's decision to build Machu Picchu. The landscape surrounding its site was unusually holy. The ridge was nearly encircled at its base by the Urubamba River. It was rich in natural wakas, such as rock formations and springs. In the distance, in all directions, many of the most sacred snow-capped mountains could be seen. It was the ideal place for Inka nobility and priests to perform the rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices that linked them with their gods. Machu Picchu was planned around its natural religious features. Priests and architects surveyed the terrain and noted the locations of sacred rock outcroppings and mountain peaks. They watched the movement of the sun and moon and stars past distant mountains and noticed how wakas lined up with the peaks during significant heavenly events, such as solstice sunrises. They took these careful observations into account when they decided where buildings would be located and in which direction windows would face. |