Tipon: Water Engineering Masterpiece of the Inca Empire

Tipon: Water Engineering Masterpiece of the Inca Empire reveals the beauty and the ingenuity of this little-known jewel of the Inca Empire. Located down the Huatanay River Valley by the Inca capital of Cusco, Tipon is a 500-acre, self-contained, walled settlement that served as an estate for Inca nobility. This historic agricultural site, which has been farmed and partially irrigated for more than 450 years, is a stunning civil engineering achievement by the Inca, who were masters of irrigation and hydraulic technology. They designed buildings, waterworks, and massive structures to be visually and functionally in harmony with the natural environment. In planning a place that would integrate water, soil, agriculture, and topography, the Inca created a virtual water garden that impresses all who visit. Kenneth R. Wright takes readers on a tour of Tipon’s canals, plazas, aqueducts, and fountains—infrastructure that transformed a remote mountainside into a true engineering marvel. Along with a detailed walking guide and beautiful photographs, this book provides modern engineers and casual tourists alike with an appreciation of the Inca civilization through the great works they left behind.

Kenneth R. Wright, P.E., L.S., is founder and chief engineer of Wright Water Engineers, Inc., a Denver consulting firm specializing in water resources and municipal utility design. He is the author, with Alfredo Valencia Zegarra, of Machu Picchu: A Civil Engineering Marvel (ASCE Press, 2000).