NASCA LINES

In the Peruvian desert, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Lima, lies a plain between the Inca and Nasca valleys. Across this plain is an assortment of perfectly straight lines, many running parallel, others intersecting, forming grand geometric forms. In and around the lines there are also trapezoidal zones, strange symbols, and pictures of birds and beasts all etched on a giant scale that can only be appreciated from the sky.

The figures come in two types: animals or plants and geoglyphs. The first group are some 70 animal and plant figures that include a spider, hummingbird, monkey and a 1,000 foot (305 meters) long pelican. They are grouped together in one area on the plain. There are about 900 geoglyphs on the plain. Geoglyphs are geometric forms that include straight lines, triangles, spirals, circles and trapezoids. They are enormous in size. The longest straight line goes nine miles across the plain.

The theories for these mysterious geoglyphs left behind by the Nasca people range from the reading of the constellations to weather forecasting, among others.

Best Tours including an Ica visit:

• Total Peru - 22 days.
• Extreme Adrenalin in Peru - 16 days.
• Machu Picchu, Nasca & Titicaca - 13 days.
• Machu Picchu & Nasca - 11 days.

More information:

• Cantalloc.
• Chauchilla.
• Maria Reiche Museum.
• Nasca culture (newsletter article).
• The misterious Nasca Lines (newsletter article).