Aeropuerto Internacional de Chinchero, Airport construction site in Urubamba Province, Peru.
Chinchero International Airport is an airport construction project located on high-altitude Andean land covering 454 hectares at 3,720 meters elevation. The development includes earthwork preparation for runways and terminal buildings designed to handle millions of passengers per year.
Plans for an airport in Chinchero first appeared in 1978, but the project lay dormant for decades until local residents agreed to sell their land in 2011. This agreement finally enabled construction to move forward on this new transportation link for the region.
The construction area sits near Cusco and has drawn UNESCO attention because of numerous archaeological sites throughout the Sacred Valley region. The location holds special meaning for local communities whose traditional farming practices have shaped this landscape for generations.
The construction site remains inaccessible to visitors and is in early development phases in this high-altitude region. It is important to know that the location at high elevation means visitors may feel effects of altitude when the airport operates in the future.
Environmental surveys found that the construction affects seventeen natural water springs that supply drinking water to local communities. These springs are essential for sustaining this mountain region and present a key challenge for the project.
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