The fascinating Lines of Nazca are a series of giant geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in the southern coast of Peru in a large plateau between the cities of Nazca and Palpa to 402 kilometers (250 miles) from Lima the capital of the country.
This plateau covers an area of around 777 square Kilometers (300 square miles). The lines draw over the desert hundreds of individual figures that represent a great variety of beings such as monkeys, spiders, llamas, lizards, hummingbirds, fish, humans, flowers, geometric forms, amongst others. They are the most outstanding group of geoglyphs of the world.
The figures of the Nazca desert are 200 meters length in average. Furrows that form the figures are quite superficial; their depth is not more 30 centimeters and they are only from 40 centimeters to 1.10 meters wide.
Nevertheless, the figures have been conserved, because of the dry, windless and stable climate of the region, as well as the iron oxide coated pebbles that cover the surface of the Nazca desert.
These lines and figures are so big and perfect that they can only be seen from the air. The purpose of these enigmatic lines as well as the technique that the ancient Peruvian used to draw the lines is one of the greatest secrets of the archeology of entire world.
However there are many theories about the purpose of the enigmatic lines. One of these explanations is that the figures had religious significance and were made to worship the gods; therefore men should not be able to see the figures formed by lines.
Other theory says that the lines were used as a giant astronomical calendar and another theory more illogical but more spectacular, says that the lines were an airstrip for alien spacecrafts. Nevertheless, none of these theories has been proved; so that the true function of the lines is still a great mystery.
There are a endless number of figures on plain of Nazca , mainly in the San José plain. The most famous shapes are the Hummingbird, the Spider, The Parrot, the Owl Man also known as Astronaut, the Condor, the Monkey, the Whale, amongst others.
All these figures are between 25 and 275 meters length. The best way to know the Nazca lines is by plane. There are several tourist agencies in the zone that offers flight over the lines.
It believes that the Nazca Lines were created between 200 BC and 700 AD by Nazca people, who used their ancient tools and techniques to draw the complex shapes on the desert’s ground. Scientists have found several wooden stakes and ceramics pieces near the lines that support this theory. Nevertheless, there are many others theories about the creators of the lines, which include magic, gods and even UFOs.
The first references about the Nazca line during the colonial period appeared in 1547 when they were described by the Spanish chronicler Pedro Cieza de León. The lines were forgotten like all the local culture, during the colonial period.
Many people walked through the lines; but, they believed that lines were ancient channels for water. But, in 1939, Toribio Mejía Xesspe rediscovered the lines for the science, because of several reports of pilots of airplanes that described an extensive collection of geoglyphs, during the 1930s. Mejía thought that the lines were sacred roads used by the ancient inhabitants of Nazca.
After Mejía , the American scholar Paul Koosk from the Long Island University, continued the scientific studies about the lines since 1941. Koosk believed that the Nazca complex was a large astronomy book and the lines represented certain astronomical alignments. This theory was very influenced by the German mathematician María Reiche, a woman that dedicated his life to the study and preservation of the Nazca lines.
She arrived to Peru in 1932 to work as a private teacher, but she knew the lines and fell in love with them; therefore Reiche stayed 50 years in Peru working in his study and preservation. Reiche believed that lines were a monumental astronomical calendar.
But, most scientists disagree with the theory of Reiche and Koosk; because there are a great number of lines and a number almost infinite of possible astronomical correlations.
However, Maria Reiche died at age 95, believing fervently in his theory. Nevertheless, his contribution was beyond the academic level, because she fought all his life for the preservation of the lines and thanks to his efforts; UNESCO declared as World Heritage, the Nazca Lines.
Since 1950s many books about Nazca Lines were published, most of these books related to the lines with sightings of UFOs. Many writers created theories, which say that Nazca lines were an airfield on which spacecrafts landed and took off.
Nevertheless, other studies made by serious scientists in the next years like the research done by Reindel and Isla ,demonstrated that the lines were made by the ancient inhabitants of Nazca using simple tools.
Besides, during this research the scientists found several agricultural offerings in the lines that suggest that the purpose of the lines was promoting the invocation of water, which was the most important resource in a dry region as Nazca.
In 1970s, the archeologist Helaine Silverman of the University of Texas theorized that Nazca Lines were drawn only after a period of drought to ask for water to the Gods.
Another argument for the water theory is the great number of aquatic animals like ducks, frogs or whales that represent the figures of Nazca. However, this theory is not still absolutely proved. The only general consensus of archeologists, anthropologists and other scientists is that the Nazca Lines were created by the Nazca people themselves, without intervention of celestial visitors.
Today the Nazca Lines are considered one of the most enigmatic places of the world and are one of the main tourist destinations of Peru and South America.
The Nazca Lines are also one of the Top 10 places of mystery according to Travel Channel, Travel Ideas and Haunted Travel. Because of the mystery of their origin, the lines have inspired many stories even in the fiction world. The Nazca lines are mentioned in the manga Pet Shop of Horrors and in the last movie of Indiana Jones, named Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Unfortunately these amazing geoglyphs are also at risk. According to the Maria Reiche Centre, the pollution and erosion caused by the massive deforestation are a great menace for the Nazca Lines. Besides, the Global Warming and the Climate Change could destroy the lines in short time; since, the preservation of the lines depends mainly of the environmental conditions.
If the rate of rain, rises in the region, the superficial furrows that make the lines, will disappear and one of the most impressive and enigmatic cultural treasures of the world, will have been destroyed forever. The Nazca Lines are definitely one of the greatest wonders of Peru and one of the marvelous treasures created by the humans.
Therefore, the preservation of this World Heritage is a task that is responsibility not only of the Peruvian government and people. The protection and study of wonders like the Nazca Lines is a task of all the people of the planet.