Nazca Lines
Peru's Nazca Lines are among the most marvelous archaeological features on the southern coast. Now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nazca was overlooked as a tourist destination until the late 1930's, when American scientist Paul Kosok noticed what he thought to be an extensive irrigation system during a flight across the country.
The complex system of lines that Kosok noticed covers some 500 square kilometers of arid flats in Southern Peru. Roughly 800 lines make up 300 geometric figures, called geoglyphs, and about 70 plant and animal depictions, called biomorphs. The biomorphs range from hummingbirds, lizards and monkeys to human figures, a condor with a 130 foot wingspan, and even a killer whale.
It is believed that the Paraca people built Nazca lines between 900 BC and AD 600, with some more recent additions by the Wari settlers beginning around AD 700. While no one can say precisely when the lines were constructed or what their exact purpose was, mathematicians and archaeologists alike have come up with a number of theories to explain the creation of the Nazca Lines.
Some believe that Nazca lines formed a giant running track, linked ceremonial sites, or were used as some kind of calendar to map out the best times of year for planting and harvesting crops. Still others believe that the lines indicate an extraterrestrial landing site, were created for the sake of water worship, or that the Nazca people had the knowledge to build hot air balloons and were able to explore the lines from the air, as Paul Kosok did in 1939.
While the best way to view the geoglyphs and biomorphs is from the air, ground tours can also be educational and informative. Nazca can be reached by air from Ica or Lima, though it is most common for visitors to arrive by bus via the Panamericana highway from Lima, Ica or Arequipa. Flights often fly directly over the Nazca lines, so passengers may choose to depart from Nazca on the same day they have arrived. Once you've arrived, there are plenty of places to dine and a number of hotels to choose from in the city of Nazca where 53,000 people reside.
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