Cusco ( /ˈkuːzkoʊ/), often spelled Cuzco (Spanish: Cuzco, ; Quechua: Qusqu or Qosqo, ), is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft).
Cusco was the site of the historic capital of the Inca Empire and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO. It is a major tourist destination and receives almost 2 million visitors a year. It is designated as the Historical Capital of Peru by the Constitution of Peru.
Read more about Cusco: Spelling and Etymology, Geography, Main Sights, Population, Food, Industry, Gallery, In Modern Culture