The Nazca Lines in southern Peru might not be considered one of the wonders of the world, but
they really are a wonder! They are a treasure of Peru! It is amazing to think that a group of people etched these designs into the desert floor. The Nazca Lines are located in the middle of the Nazca Desert and the best way to view them is from the air as the designs are hundreds of feet long. If you don’t have a desire to climb into a tiny Cessna Plane then you can
still see the lines from certain viewpoints from the surrounding foothills and towers that have been built up along the highway, but the best view is from the sky above in the cockpit of a plane! There are many lines and geometric shapes and other figures that are more complex in design. There are multiple shapes that you can see with a short plane ride from the Nazca Airport
Most of the Nazca Lines are different shapes such as a tree or hands or even a man, but the majority represent animals like a dog, a condor, and a whale, but my three favorite are the spider, the monkey, and the hummingbird! It’s amazing to think that a group of people were able to create these huge designs thousands of years ago in the desert and not be able to look down from above to view their artwork
The Nazca Lines have brought hundreds of scholars and scientists to the area over the years to research the lines and try and figure out exactly why they were made. One idea is that the Nazca people created the designs so they could be seen by their gods in the sky! Many scientist theorize that it was for religious purposes that the lines were created between 500 BC and 500 CE. In 1994, the Nazca Lines were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site so if you are ever
in Peru, you definitely should visit these amazing designs and come up with your own theory of exactly how they
ended up there! The majority of people visiting Peru will
head to Cusco to see one of the seven modern wonders of the world that is known as Machu Picchu and it is an amazing sight, but don’t skip over the Nazca Lines if you have the time while visiting Peru
Pin me!
Like this article? Then Pin me so other travelers can find it!