Explore the Historic City of Chan Chan

Walk around this adobe metropolis

Tap to explore

Chan Chan was the capital city of Chimú empire

The capital stretched for nearly a thousand kilometres along the coastline. 

Tap to explore

Chan Chan is one of 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Peru

This recognizes the cultural importance of Chan Chan, the largest adobe brick city on earth when it peaked in 1400 AD.

Tap to explore

It was the largest adobe city in pre-Columbian America

The city planning reflects a strict political and social strategy, marked by the city's division into nine 'citadels' or 'palaces' forming autonomous units. 

Tap to explore

The Chimu civilization transformed their surroundings

The Chimu civilization addressed changes in climate and sporadic access to fresh water in their desert coastal city through transforming their surroundings

Tap to explore

The city is at risk of washing away

Site managers today face challenges preserving these places with more extreme and frequent changes in rainfall and droughts due to El Niño events and climate change that threaten to gradually wash the ancient city away. 

Tap to explore

It is important to document and preserve the city

Site managers are working to document the site in order to better understand the challenges it faces from climate change and to conserve it for future generations.

Discover more

Discover how CyArk uses 3D documentation to empower local experts.

Find out more about ICOMOS' efforts to increase engagement of cultural heritage in climate action here.

Credits: Story

Milagros Flores, ICOMOS and President, ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Fortifications and Military Heritage.

CyArk

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more

Interested in Visual arts?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites