Nazca lines

Spread across an incredible 500 sq. km of arid, rock strewn plain in the Pampa Colorada, the Nazca lines remain one of the world's great archaeological mysteries. Consisting of over 800 straight lines, 300 geographic figures and, concentrated in a relatively small area, some 70 spectacular animal and plant drawings, the lines are almost imperceptible at ground level. It's only when viewed from above that they form their striking network of enormous stylized figures and channels, many of which radiate from a central axis. It is believed that, around 600 AD, the ancient Indians of nazca drew a series of extraordinary designs in the world. Most beautiful of these are the animals; a whale, a condor, a monkey, a humming bird and a huge spider. In addition, there are triangles, spirals and star shapes. The mystery begins when you understand that the Nazca lines are so big that you can only see them from the air. In fact the lines were only discovered in 1927 when one of the first aeroplanes in Peru flew over them. Obviously the Nazcan people didn't have any any aeroplanes in 600 AD. So why did they go to the trouble of scratching out the lines and the pictures when they could never see them.

All sorts of theories have been put forward. Were they drawn for the benefit of the ancient gods in the sky? Some suggests that they had a religious meaning, while many experts believe that they were in some way tied to the stars, perhaps being used to forecast the seasons. But nobody knows for certain.

Today, visitors often fly over the lines, simply marvelling at their size and beauty. The excellent little Museo Didactico Antonini is highly informative on local sites. Local tours take you to the Cantallo aqueducts, 2km outside the down, where you can see and walk down to working water channels accessed by spiraling wells. A popular Cemetery of Chauchilla, 30 km away, will satisfy any urges you have to see Nazca bones, skulls and mummies.