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An unusual summit in the heart of the Amazon rainforest might indeed be the biggest pyramid constructed throughout history. the ancient world .
Referred to as Cerro El Cono, this enormous, pyramid-like structure is shrouded in secrecy because of its impressive form and the immense challenge involved in accessing it.
The 1,310-foot-high, pyramid-shaped hill stands within Peru’s Sierra del Divisor National Park, close to the Ucayali River in the heart of the Amazon.
In contrast to other mountains, this exceptionally steep summit features a series of clear flat areas—similar to the Great Pyramid of Giza—that have gradually become blanketed with vegetation over time.
Furthermore, this prominent peak rises dramatically above the entirely flat rainforest surrounding it, fueling theories that Cerro El Cono might not have been formed naturally.
Even though scientists consider the massive hill to be merely a geological anomaly—perhaps a volcano or a natural rock structure—the indigenous locals regard Cerro El Cono as a revered mountain deity known as an ‘Andean Apu,’ believed to safeguard their settlements.
This age-old practice of honoring mountain deities traces back to an era prior to the Inca Empire, specifically between 500 and 1000 CE. However, there’s another hypothesis about Cerro El Cono that originates from an even earlier period than these ancient legends.
Even though limited research has not uncovered any proof, local tales suggest that Cerro El Cono rests atop the remnants of an old pyramid constructed by a vanished society that once thrived in the Amazon region.
As reported by Peruvian news outlets La República , fringe researchers have picked up on the local folklore of the Indigenous tribes, believing that Cerro El Cono ('Cone Hill' in English) is a man-made structure just like the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Should this be confirmed as accurate, Cerro El Cono (1,310 feet), which stands taller than Giza’s 481-foot height, could claim the title of being the loftiest ancient edifice ever known.
Actually, this extremely steep design would rise over three times higher than any other known ancient pyramid or temple.
Cerro El Cono might someday be added to the expanding roster of enigmatic ancient edifices, potentially predating even the Egyptian pyramids.
One of these historical edifices is Gunung Padang First rediscovered by Dutch explorers in 1890, this structure is claimed to be the world's most ancient pyramid.
Research indicates that the 'giant structure,' which is 98 feet deep and buried beneath a hill of volcanic rock, has existed for over 16,000 years.
In 2023, scientists said the structure promises to upend the conventional wisdom on just how 'primitive' hunter-gather societies actually were - revealing the true 'engineering capabilities of ancient civilizations.'
Another alleged pyramid called the Yonaguni monument sits just 82 feet below sea level near the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
This mysterious object also continues to astonish researchers since its discovery in 1986, with new studies revealing that the rocks are roughly 12,000 years-old.
However, neither of these ancient monuments would match the height of Cerro El Cono if it is actually man-made, with Gunung Padang being just 312 feet tall and the Yonaguni monument measuring only 90 feet in height.
In spite of the regional myths and enigmatic form of the towering South American summit, experts assert that the most probable explanation is Cerro El Cono possibly being an inactive volcano that emerged abruptly within the jungle.
Specifically, it might be an oddly-formed volcanic cone, a volcanic plug, or an igneous intrusion that came into being millions of years past.
A volcanic cone is a hill or mountain formed by the accumulation of volcanic materials, such as lava, ash, and debris, ejected from a volcano’s vent during eruptions.
A volcanic plug (also called a volcanic neck) is a solid, cylindrical mass of hardened magma that forms inside a volcano’s vent or conduit.
Once the volcano ceases activity, the softer volcanic materials such as ash around it start to erode, revealing the sturdy lava plug which stands out as a separate hill or summit.
An igneous intrusion is a body of molten magma that pushes into or between existing rock layers beneath the Earth’s surface but cools and solidifies before reaching the surface.
When exposed by erosion, intrusions can form hills, ridges, or peaks, depending on their shape and size.
No matter how Cerro El Cono was formed, it stands as a entirely distinct structure within the Amazon region.
Actually, Cerro El Cono emerges so abruptly from the level rainforest that its summit can be distinctly viewed from more than 250 miles distant.
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