The Unsolved Mystery of Peru’s Ancient Nazca Lines
The Unsolved Mystery of Peru’s Ancient Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines in Peru have baffled and intrigued explorers, archaeologists, and historians for centuries. Located in the Nazca Desert, these giant geoglyphs depict a variety of shapes, such as animals, plants, and geometric designs. There are numerous theories about their origin and purpose, but the Nazca Lines remain an unsolved mystery to this day. Here, we’ll explore some details and facts surrounding the Nazca Lines and attempt to uncover their secrets.
The Location and the Coordinates
The Nazca Lines are a sequence of ancient geoglyphs in southern Peru in the Nazca Desert. The lines are located about 250 miles south of Lima, Peru, and the coordinates are approximately 14.58° S, and 75.07° W. The lines were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and are thought to have been formed by the Nazca culture between 500 BCE and 500 CE. They're best viewed from the air and depict a variety of geometric shapes and figures. The figures range in size from less than 3.2 feet to over 984.25 feet in length and are etched into the desert floor using shallow trenches filled with a contrasting color of soil. Some famous figures include a hummingbird, a spider, a monkey, and a condor. The lines are also notable for their straightness and precision, with some lines running for over 12 miles and remaining almost perfectly straight.