Monte Alban, Mexico
A Zapotec capital on a mountaintop that was leveled by hand.
Terra Explorer Ancient wonders
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The Standard resolution model is free as STL, 3MF, Colored 3MF, OBJ and a 16-bit heightmap. High resolution samples the place about ten times more finely.
- Region
- Mexico
- Position
- 17.0438, -96.7677
- Area
- 5 × 5 km
- Real elevation
- 1,540 to 1,933 m (393 m of relief)
- Printed size
- 150 mm (5.9 in) wide, about 1:33,300
- Heights
- 3× exaggeration
- Elevation data
- Open satellite data (SRTM and others), about 30 m per point
- Suggested color
- Natural
- Group
- Ancient wonders
About Monte Alban, Mexico
Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca (17.043° N, 96.767°W). The site is located on a low mountainous range rising above the plain in the central section of the Valley of Oaxaca, where the latter's northern Etla, eastern Tlacolula, and southern Zimatlán and Ocotlán (or Valle Grande) branches meet. The present-day state capital Oaxaca City is located approximately 9 km (6 mi) east of Monte Albán. The partially excavated civic ceremonial center of the Monte Albán site is situated atop an artificially leveled ridge. It has an elevation of about 1,940 m (6,400 ft) above mean sea level and rises some 400 m (1,300 ft) from the valley floor, in an easily defensible location.
From Wikipedia: Monte Albán, text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. The article’s history lists its authors.
Questions about Monte Alban, Mexico
Where is Monte Alban?
Monte Alban is in Mexico at 17.0438, -96.7677. The model covers a 5 by 5 kilometer square around that point.
How high is the terrain in the Monte Alban model?
The land in this model runs from 1,540 to 1,933 m (393 m of relief). These are the measured heights, printed 3 times taller so the shape is easy to see.
Can I 3D print Monte Alban?
Yes. Download the free Standard resolution STL and print it on any FDM or resin printer. It is 150 mm wide and about 40.4 mm tall, on a solid 5 mm base, at a scale of about 1:33,300. It also works for CNC carving. Use Customize to change the width, base thickness or height exaggeration, make it round or add a name plate.
How accurate is the Monte Alban model?
It is built from real elevation measurements, not an artist's guess: open satellite and survey data (NASA SRTM, Copernicus and national surveys), about 30 meters per point. The shaded picture on this page is made from the same data.
Is the Monte Alban model free?
The Standard resolution model is free as STL, 3MF, Colored 3MF, OBJ and a 16-bit heightmap. High resolution samples the place about ten times more finely and is a paid upgrade.
What is a Monte Alban terrain model good for?
People use it as a desk piece for history lovers, a classroom model or a gift for someone who has been there.
About this terrain model
Embossify Terra builds Monte Alban, Mexico from real measured elevation, not an artist's guess. Outside the United States the heights come from open satellite and survey data (NASA SRTM, Copernicus and national surveys), about 30 meters per point.
The model covers a 5 by 5 kilometer square centered on 17.0438, -96.7677. It prints 150 mm (5.9 in) wide on a solid base, a scale of about 1:33,300. The heights are exaggerated 3× so the shape is easy to see and feel; you can change that when you customize the model. The sea is flattened to zero, so land stands on a clean base.
New to terrain printing? Read how Terra works. The shaded picture on this page is made by Embossify from the same elevation data.
