The Nazca Lines Mystery

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The Nazca Lines Mystery involves the mostNazca culture constructed the Lines to be used as
outstanding group of geoglyphs in the world thata sun calendar and an observatory for
show huge outlines of over 70 animals, insectsastronomical cycles, making it the biggest
and human creatures, with hundreds of lines andastronomy book in the world. This is the most
geometric patterns etched into the surface of thewidely accepted theory today, although there are
desert.many other theories that try to explain this
Located between the towns of Nazca and Palpa,complex mystery.
the Nazca Lines cover a plateau across 53 miles.The Nazca Lines could be magic lines that
Some of the figures measure 900 feet across.originated from the cat cult in Chavin de Huantar.
This extraordinary legacy was created by theSome claim the Lines to be sacred geometry.
Nazca culture from about 200 BC to 700 AD. TheThe Nazca figures could be markers for a
Nazca Lines can only be seen from high above,subterranean waterflow. Perhaps the Nazca Lines
and were consequentially discovered from anwere designed by priests or shamen to be used
airplane in flight in 1927. The Lines are now aas an astrological calendar and placed in the Nazca
UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the mostdesert because of its spiritual energy.
popular attractions in Peru.Then again, since the Lines themselves cannot be
The Nazca desert maintains a temperatureradiocarbon dated, the possibility remains that
around 25°C (77°F) year round, making it onethey already existed when the Nazca culture
of the driest deserts on Earth. Its lack of windemerged.
has helped keep its lines of hummingbirds, spiders,Because the Nazca Lines can only be completely
monkeys, lizards sharks and other figuresseen from the air, some theorize that the Nazca
uncovered to the present day.culture developed rudimentary methods of flight,
Nazca Culturelike the hot air balloon. There are also claims that
South of the Nazca Lines archaeologists arethe Lines were made by extraterrestrials for UFO
uncovering the ancient city of Cahuachi which holdlanding strips.
clues the the Nazca Lines mystery. This was aThe truth is, no one really knows why the Nazca
major ceremonial center of the Nazca culture withLines were constructed. Perhaps someday, as
several large adobe pyramids, some of whichexcavations at Cahuachi continues, evidence will
overlook much of the Nazca Lines.be found that may point us in a firm direction.
The culture also constructed an impressiveUntil then, you can fly over the Nazca Lines to
system of underground aqueducts that stilldraw your own conclusions.
function today. The aqueducts of Cantalloc wereFlying Over the Nazca Lines
imperative to the Nazca culture and it helpedTours usually begin at the Maria Reiche airdrome
them survive.in Nazca where a video about the Lines is often
Cahuachi was used as a ceremonial center whichshown. The flight over the Nazca Lines takes
hosted rituals related to agriculture, fertility andplace in a small airplane and lasts for about 45
water. For unknown reasons construction ofminutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Cahuachi abruptly stopped, and the city wasMost tours also include a fascinating visit to the
abandoned. Popular theory suggest that theChauchila cemetery where mummies from the
collapse of the center was a result ofNazca culture may be observed in open tombs.
environmental deterioration or the pan-AndeanDue to the dryness of the Nazca desert the
drought.bodies are remarkably preserved. A visit to
Theories of the Nazca Lines Mysteryceramic shops also proves to be interesting as
Maria Reiche was a German mathematician andyou will be informed on the importance ceramic
archaeologist who researched the Nazca Lines forpottery was to the ancient Nazcans.