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Nazca Lines, Peru

The Nazca lines are a group of geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru.

They were created between 500 BCE and 500 CE by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.

There are two major phases of the Nazca lines, Paracas phase, from 400 to 200 BCE, and Nazca phase, from 200 BCE to 500 CE.

Lines and geoglyphs
Most lines run straight across the landscape, but there are also figurative designs of animals and plants.

  • The combined length of all the lines is more than 1,300 km (800 mi), and the group covers an area of about 50 km2 (19 sq mi).
  • The lines are typically 10 to 15 cm (4–6 in) deep. They were made by removing the top layer of reddish-brown ferric oxide–coated pebbles to reveal a yellow-grey subsoil.
  • The width of the lines varies considerably, but more than half are slightly more than 33 cm (13 in) wide. In some places they may be only 30 cm (12 in) wide, and in others reach 1.8 m (6 ft) wide.

Blandine Gautier explains to us the importance of the Nazca Lines

Nazca lines viewpoint

Climbing the Nazca Lines viewpoint

Panorama of the Nazca Lines
View from northeast to southwest.


The Tree (El Árbol)

The Hands (La Mano)

Geometric lines, after The Tree, and before The Astronaut

Panorama of the Nazca Lines
View from southwest to northeast.


The Lizard (La Lagartija)

See also

Source

Location

Location: 8V4P+FC5, 11350, Peru