Part 5/6:
Moreover, these fissures in the earth acted as a natural plumbing system, allowing rainwater and meltwater to infiltrate and sustain the city without the threat of flooding — a crucial aspect for a society of around 1,000 inhabitants at the height of the Inca Empire. The architectural layout of the buildings was aligned with the directions of these geological faults, incorporating the earth’s movements during earthquakes into their design. When the ground shook, the stone blocks would shift like puzzle pieces, averting collapses.