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Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
'Pyramid built by forgotten civilization' in Amazon rainforest may be the world's tallest ancient structure
A strange peak in the middle of the Amazon rainforest may actually be the largest pyramid ever built in the ancient world. Known as Cerro El Cono, the massive, pyramid-shaped formation is cloaked in mystery due to both its striking structure and the extreme difficulty of reaching it. The 1,310ft pyramid-shaped hill sits in Peru's Sierra Del Divisor National Park, near the Ucayali River in the Amazon. Unlike other mountains, however, this extremely steep peak has a set of distinct flat surfaces - like the Great Pyramid Of Giza - which have been covered by vegetation over the centuries. Moreover, this one great peak sticks out from the completely flat rainforest around it, adding to speculation that Cerro El Cono may not be a natural formation. While scientists believe the giant hill is just a geological oddity, possibly a volcano or natural rock formation, local Indigenous tribes view Cerro El Cono as a sacred mountain spirit which protects their communities, calling it 'Andean Apu'. This ancient tradition of worshipping mountain spirits dates back to a time before the Inca Empire, between 500 and 1000 CE, but another theory surrounding Cerro El Cono predates even these ancient myths. Although the few studies of this area have yet to find evidence to prove it, local legends claim that Cerro El Cono sits on the ruins of an ancient pyramid built by a long forgotten civilization that lived in the Amazon. According to Peruvian news outlet La Republica, fringe researchers have picked up on the local folklore of the Indigenous tribes, believing that Cerro El Cono is a man-made structure just like the Great Pyramid at Giza. If this were proven true, it would make Cerro El Cono the tallest ancient structure in history, soaring past Giza's 481ft. In fact, this incredibly steep structure would stand more than three times taller than any other ancient pyramid or temple that has been discovered. Cerro El Cono may one day join the growing list of mysterious ancient structures, some of which predate the Egyptian pyramids. One of these ancient structures is Gunung Padang, first re-discovered by Dutch explorers in 1890, and said to be the world's oldest pyramid. Studies show that the 98ft-deep 'megalith' submerged within a hill of lava rock dates back more than 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 82ft below sea level near the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. This mysterious structure 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 312ft tall and the Yonaguni monument measuring only 90ft in height. Despite the local legends and mysterious shape of the massive Amazonian peak, scientists maintain that the likeliest answer is that Cerro El Cono may be an extinct volcano that rose up suddenly in the rainforest. Specifically, it could be a strangely-shaped volcanic cone, volcanic plug, or igneous intrusion which formed millions of years ago. 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. After the volcano becomes inactive, surrounding softer volcanic materials like ash erode away, leaving the more resistant plug standing as a distinct hill or peak. 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. Regardless of how Cerro El Cono came into existence, it is a completely unique formation in the Amazon. In fact, Cerro El Cono rises so steeply out of the flat rainforest that the peak can be seen clearly from over 250 miles away.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Mystery of towering ‘pyramid-shaped' mountain El Cono in heart of Amazon that locals believe was ‘built for the Gods'
A TOWERING mountain that rises suddenly from the flat Amazon rainforest is cloaked in mystery. Cerro el Cono, the steep pyramid-shaped rock, stands tall and alone - leading locals to believe it was "built for the Gods". 3 3 3 The 1,310ft-tall peak shoots up from Sierra del Divisor National Park in eastern Peru, near the border with Brazil. Its shape is striking similar to the pyramids of Giza - with broad, flat sides that have been covered in vegetation over centuries. Both the clean-cut shape and the random position amid a flat plain have led to various theories about the origin of El Cono. Indigenous tribes worship the structure as a sacred mountain spirit known as "Andean Apu", which they say rose from the ground to protect the surrounding people. The belief dates from a time before the Inca Empire - between 500 and 1000 AD. But another theory predates even that ancient myth. A local legend tells that El Cono sits atop the ruins of an ancient pyramid built by a forgotten Amazon civilisation. Research into local folklore has found that some of the indigenous tribes believe the mountain is man-made, just like the Giza pyramids. If this were proven true, then El Cono would be the tallest ancient structure on Earth - towering over Giza by 481ft. Scientists have less interesting theories about how the mountain came to be - including that it is an extinct volcano or simply an unusual rock formation. PEAK OF RIDDLES Mystery of Pyramid Mountain…the eerily perfect frozen structure 2,000 miles from anywhere at centre of alien conspiracy Cerro El Cono stands adjacent to the Ucayali River - which is a major feeder to the Amazon River. The surrounding jungle is bursting with life and an incredible variety of species - including the elusive giant armadillo and different kinds of monkey. In light of the new research, El Cono could join the growing list of ancient structures that are the subject of imaginative speculation. There is another mountain which has aroused speculation over its perfect pyramid shape. It lies in a very different climate, in a far corner of Antarctica. The snowy structure of the ice-locked continent has a striking resemblance to the great pyramids of Egypt - and has been the centre of eerie conspiracy theories. It was first discovered by the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913, but only became famous in 2016 when its eerie pictures went viral on the internet. People from all around the world put forward their bizarre explanations to justify the shape of Antarctica's pyramid mountain. With a height of 4,150 feet, all four sides of the mountain are steep and appear to be in perfect symmetry. The peak is part of the Ellsworth Mountains - the highest mountain range in Antarctica.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
'Sacred' pyramid built by forgotten civilization in Amazon rainforest may be world's tallest ancient structure
A strange peak in the middle of the Amazon rainforest may actually be the largest pyramid ever built in the ancient world. Known as Cerro El Cono, this massive, pyramid-shaped formation is cloaked in mystery due to both its striking structure and the extreme difficulty of reaching it. The 1,310-foot-tall, pyramid-shaped hill sits in Peru's Sierra del Divisor National Park, near the Ucayali River in the Amazon. Unlike other mountains, however, this extremely steep peak has a set of distinct flat surfaces - like the Great Pyramid of Giza - which have been covered by vegetation over the centuries. Moreover, this one great peak sticks out from the completely flat rainforest around it, adding to the speculation that Cerro El Cono may not be a natural formation. While scientists believe the giant hill is just a geological oddity, possibly a volcano or natural rock formation, local Indigenous tribes revere Cerro El Cono as a sacred mountain spirit which protects their communities, calling it 'Andean Apu.' This ancient tradition of worshipping mountain spirits dates back to a time before the Inca Empire, between 500 and 1000 CE, but another theory surrounding Cerro El Cono predates even these ancient myths. Although the few studies of this area have yet to find evidence to prove it, local legends claim that Cerro El Cono sits on the ruins of an ancient pyramid built by a long forgotten civilization that lived in the Amazon. According to Peruvian news outlet 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. If this were proven true, it would make Cerro El Cono (1,310 feet) the tallest ancient structure in history, soaring past Giza's 481 feet. In fact, this incredibly steep structure would stand more than three times taller than any other ancient pyramid or temple that has been discovered. Cerro El Cono may one day join the growing list of mysterious ancient structures, some of which predate the Egyptian pyramids. One of these ancient structures is Gunung Padang, first re-discovered by Dutch explorers in 1890, and said to be the world's oldest pyramid. Studies show that the 98-foot-deep 'megalith' submerged within a hill of lava rock dates back more than 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. Despite the local legends and mysterious shape of the massive Amazonian peak, scientists maintain that the likeliest answer is that Cerro El Cono may be an extinct volcano that rose up suddenly in the rainforest. Specifically, it could be a strangely-shaped volcanic cone, volcanic plug, or igneous intrusion which formed millions of years ago. 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. After the volcano becomes inactive, surrounding softer volcanic materials like ash erode away, leaving the more resistant plug standing as a distinct hill or peak. 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. Regardless of how Cerro El Cono came into existence, it is a completely unique formation in the Amazon. In fact, Cerro El Cono rises so steeply out of the flat rainforest that the peak can be seen clearly from over 250 miles away.
