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Catastrophic debris flows near Machu Picchu village (Aguas Calientes), Peru

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Slope movements together with intensive river erosion and the following accumulation are the leading processes in the landscape evolution in the area of Machu Picchu village (former Aguas Calientes), which is located close to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Debris flows affect not only the bottoms of valleys or canyons, but also debris fans at the termini of the drainage basins, which are heavily inhabited at some places. The most recent event in the Machu Picchu village occurred in April 2004, but several others were documented in a broader area in the last 50 years. The field inspections at Machu Picchu (May and September 2004; June and September 2005) together with oral testimony revealed the nature and behavior of the debris flow. Machu Picchu village can be assessed as a zone with high landslide risk in relation to its urban development. Despite that, the village recorded a rapid growth (threefold population increase) without urban control within the past two decades. Precipitation, which is the main triggering factor of the debris flows, and natural hazard management of the Machu Picchu village are discussed in this paper.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (Projects MSM 00216 20831 and INGO, LA 157) as well as the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic (Project UNESCO/ICL/Jap) for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    V. Vilímek

  2. Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences, V Holešovičkách 41, 182 09, Prague 8, Czech Republic

    J. Klimeš

  3. Department of Engineering Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, Mlynska dolina G, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia

    J. Vlcko

  4. Grudec Ayar-Coer, PO Box 638, Cusco, Peru

    R. Carreño

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  1. V. Vilímek
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  2. J. Klimeš
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  4. R. Carreño
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Correspondence to V. Vilímek.

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Vilímek, V., Klimeš, J., Vlcko, J. et al. Catastrophic debris flows near Machu Picchu village (Aguas Calientes), Peru. Environ Geol 50, 1041–1052 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0276-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0276-3

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