These ancient geoglyphs in the Nazca desert are made up of interesting figures of different designs on the surface of the land. T<\/span>here are three basic types of Nazca Lines: straight lines, geometric designs and pictorial representations.<\/span><\/h4>\n![\"L\u00edneas](\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lineas-de-nazaca-desde-el-cielo.webp\")
Nazca Lines seen from the sky<\/em><\/p><\/div>\nWho made Nazca Lines?<\/b><\/h4>\nAnthropologists believe that the Nazca culture, which began around 100 B.C. and flourished from A.D. 1 to 700, created the majority of the Nazca Lines. The Chavin and Paracas cultures, which predate the Nazca, may have also created some geoglyphs.<\/span><\/h4>\n![\"Cultura](\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/cultura-nazca.webp\")
Cultura Nazca<\/em><\/p><\/div>\nDescription:<\/b><\/h4>\nThere are more than 800 straight lines on the coastal plain, some of which are 30 miles (48 km) long. Additionally, there are over 300 geometric designs, which include basic shapes such as triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids, as well as spirals, arrows, zig-zags, and wavy lines.<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Nazca Lines are perhaps best known for the representations of about 70 animals and plants, some of which measure up to 1,200 feet (370 meters) long. Examples include a spider, hummingbird, cactus plant, monkey, whale, llama, duck, flower, tree, lizard and dog.<\/span><\/h4>\nHow were Nazca lines discovered?<\/b><\/p>\n
The first clues to the existence of the Nazca lines and geoglyphs date back to the year 1547 when Spanish historian and chronicler Cieza de Le\u00f3n mentioned that he saw \u00absigns in some parts of the Nazca desert.\u00bb This claim was forgotten with the passage of time until, much later, they were rediscovered by the first Peruvian commercial airline pilots.<\/span><\/p>\nThe first researcher to study them was Julio C\u00e9sar Tello, a Peruvian archaeologist, who in 1929 described these enigmas as \u00absacred highways.\u00bb That same year, Paul Kosok, from the United States, interpreted them as \u00abthe largest astronomy book in the world.\u00bb Years later, Toribio Mej\u00eda Xesspe theorized that the lines were part of a vanished religion. However, it was a German archeologist Mar\u00eda Reiche Neumann who conducted in-depth studies that interpreted the Nazca lines and geoglyphs as a gigantic solar and lunar calendar for ancient Peruvian astronomers. They used the lines to predict the best time to harvest crops and the arrival of the rainy season.<\/span><\/p>\nIt was Maria Reiche\u2019s invaluable work, made with love and dedication that contributed Nazca Lines to be declared <\/span>World Heritage Site<\/span> by UNESCO.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Maria](\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maria-reiche-1280x720-1.webp\")
Maria Reiche, german <\/span><\/i>archeologist\u00a0 and mathematician<\/span> who <\/span><\/i>devoted her life to investigating Peru\u2019s Nazca Lines<\/span><\/i><\/em><\/p><\/div>\nLocation and how to get to Nazca Lines:<\/b><\/h4>\nNazca Lines are<\/span> located in the Peruvian coastal plain about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Lima, Peru, <\/span>in Pampas of Jumana in the Nazca Desert, between the towns of Nazca and Palpa.<\/span><\/h4>\nOnce in Nazca, there are only two options for viewing the lines \u2013 take a flight or climb the nearby observation tower. However, flying is undoubtedly preferable as it offers a bird\u2019s eye view of the most important etchings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nInkayni Important note: <\/b>Nazca\u2019s tiny airport doesn\u2019t serve passenger flights so almost all travelers arrive by bus instead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThese incredible Lines can only be fully appreciated when viewed from the air given their huge size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSince some depictions measure up to 370 meters long, you may wonder why they built it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAs historian Maria Rostworowski explains, the figures were created to be seen from the sky. However, the purpose of this figure was not to understand the stars, but to pay homage to a winged god who was respected and feared by the people. It thus serves as an offering to keep this divinity from punishing them with droughts, which in an arid land like Nazca would have devastating consequences.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are many conspiracy theories about the real origin of the lines and how were they really done without any planes, helicopters or advanced technology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFamous figures you may see from the air include a monkey, a spider, a hummingbird, and so many more.<\/span><\/h4>\nHummingbird:<\/b><\/p>\nThis figure is one of the most representative of all the geoglyphs, due to its harmonic dimensions. The wingspan of the hummingbird is around 66 m (216 ft.)<\/span><\/h4>\n
Nazca Lines seen from the sky<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Cultura Nazca<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n How were Nazca lines discovered?<\/b><\/p>\n The first clues to the existence of the Nazca lines and geoglyphs date back to the year 1547 when Spanish historian and chronicler Cieza de Le\u00f3n mentioned that he saw \u00absigns in some parts of the Nazca desert.\u00bb This claim was forgotten with the passage of time until, much later, they were rediscovered by the first Peruvian commercial airline pilots.<\/span><\/p>\n The first researcher to study them was Julio C\u00e9sar Tello, a Peruvian archaeologist, who in 1929 described these enigmas as \u00absacred highways.\u00bb That same year, Paul Kosok, from the United States, interpreted them as \u00abthe largest astronomy book in the world.\u00bb Years later, Toribio Mej\u00eda Xesspe theorized that the lines were part of a vanished religion. However, it was a German archeologist Mar\u00eda Reiche Neumann who conducted in-depth studies that interpreted the Nazca lines and geoglyphs as a gigantic solar and lunar calendar for ancient Peruvian astronomers. They used the lines to predict the best time to harvest crops and the arrival of the rainy season.<\/span><\/p>\n It was Maria Reiche\u2019s invaluable work, made with love and dedication that contributed Nazca Lines to be declared <\/span>World Heritage Site<\/span> by UNESCO.<\/span><\/p>\n Maria Reiche, german <\/span><\/i>archeologist\u00a0 and mathematician<\/span> who <\/span><\/i>devoted her life to investigating Peru\u2019s Nazca Lines<\/span><\/i><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Once in Nazca, there are only two options for viewing the lines \u2013 take a flight or climb the nearby observation tower. However, flying is undoubtedly preferable as it offers a bird\u2019s eye view of the most important etchings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Inkayni Important note: <\/b>Nazca\u2019s tiny airport doesn\u2019t serve passenger flights so almost all travelers arrive by bus instead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n These incredible Lines can only be fully appreciated when viewed from the air given their huge size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since some depictions measure up to 370 meters long, you may wonder why they built it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As historian Maria Rostworowski explains, the figures were created to be seen from the sky. However, the purpose of this figure was not to understand the stars, but to pay homage to a winged god who was respected and feared by the people. It thus serves as an offering to keep this divinity from punishing them with droughts, which in an arid land like Nazca would have devastating consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many conspiracy theories about the real origin of the lines and how were they really done without any planes, helicopters or advanced technology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hummingbird:<\/b><\/p>\nWho made Nazca Lines?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Anthropologists believe that the Nazca culture, which began around 100 B.C. and flourished from A.D. 1 to 700, created the majority of the Nazca Lines. The Chavin and Paracas cultures, which predate the Nazca, may have also created some geoglyphs.<\/span><\/h4>\n
Description:<\/b><\/h4>\n
There are more than 800 straight lines on the coastal plain, some of which are 30 miles (48 km) long. Additionally, there are over 300 geometric designs, which include basic shapes such as triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids, as well as spirals, arrows, zig-zags, and wavy lines.<\/span><\/h4>\n
The Nazca Lines are perhaps best known for the representations of about 70 animals and plants, some of which measure up to 1,200 feet (370 meters) long. Examples include a spider, hummingbird, cactus plant, monkey, whale, llama, duck, flower, tree, lizard and dog.<\/span><\/h4>\n
Location and how to get to Nazca Lines:<\/b><\/h4>\n
Nazca Lines are<\/span> located in the Peruvian coastal plain about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Lima, Peru, <\/span>in Pampas of Jumana in the Nazca Desert, between the towns of Nazca and Palpa.<\/span><\/h4>\n
Famous figures you may see from the air include a monkey, a spider, a hummingbird, and so many more.<\/span><\/h4>\n
This figure is one of the most representative of all the geoglyphs, due to its harmonic dimensions. The wingspan of the hummingbird is around 66 m (216 ft.)<\/span><\/h4>\n