Lost Temple of the Inca

Documentary | 2019 | 52 minutes

For decades, legendary archeologist Dr. Johan Reinhard has been searching for the lost temples of the Inca Empire in Peru, but one has remained hidden: Ausangate, named after one of the most sacred mountains in the Empire. In 2011, environmental scientist Preston Sowell picked up where Dr Reinhard left off: While looking for threatened high-altitude species in the Peruvian Andes, Sowell discovered ruins and artifacts submerged beneath the waters of a remote lake at the headwaters of the Amazon River that he thinks are the lost temple of Ausangate. Featuring Dr. Reinhard, this film follows Sowell’s journey of discovery, loss and adventure as he seeks to prove the cultural significance of this sacred place in order to protect the lake’s watershed from environmental devastation.

Director: Jim Aikman

Producer: Graham Zimmerman

Co-Producer: Nathan Dappan

Co-Producer: Off the Fence

Executive Producer: Debbie Hinnigen

Featuring: Preston Sowell & Johan Reinhard

Distributed by National Graphic & Disney+

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Scuba diver exploring underwater marine environment near seafloor with green algae and rocks.
A scenic landscape featuring a large lake with reflections of the sky, surrounded by mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
A scuba diver underwater wearing a mask and wetsuit, examining a rock or coral surrounded by aquatic plants and small particles floating in the water.
Close-up photograph of an elderly woman with tan skin and deep wrinkles, wearing a large brown hat, colorful striped shawl, and gold hoop earrings, standing against a textured stone wall background.
An elderly man assembling a vintage film projector in a room with bookshelves and a wooden wall.
A person wearing a red jacket and backpack hiking in a mountainous landscape with a lake, rock cairn, and a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up of an elderly man with white hair, blue eyes, and wearing a denim shirt, looking slightly to the side.
Person in red jacket standing outdoors at night, gazing at a starry sky over a mountain and lake.
Two hikers, a woman in a red jacket and a man in a blue jacket, sitting and squatting on rocky terrain overlooking mountains and a lake under a partly cloudy sky.
Black and white close-up photo of a man wearing a beanie and outdoor gear, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
A small inflatable boat with an outboard motor resting on the shore of a body of water, with a large mountain in the background during sunset.
A smiling elderly man in a hat and jacket outdoors in a snowy landscape, holding a coiled rope, with a pack animal in the background.
Close-up of a man wearing a red winter jacket with a hood, black beanie, in foggy and snowy conditions.
Group of people working together at night on an outdoor project, handling equipment and tools, wearing headlamps and warm jackets.
Man hiking in a mountainous area with a large body of water, snow-capped mountains in the background, wearing outdoor gear, hat, and sunglasses.
Group of people outdoors near a small stone structure, with a lake and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Two scuba divers in black wetsuits and masks submerged in water, with mountains and an overcast sky in the background.
A man outdoors holding a small, dark, pointed rock or arrowhead close to the camera, with a focused expression on his face.
Two men in motorcycle gear sitting on rocky terrain with mountain and cloudy sky in background.
A person in a winter hat and coat standing outdoors in a snowy landscape with a horse nearby. The horse has snow on its face and mane.