The Nazca lines generally refers to a broad group of geoglyphs contained in the greater Nazca area of Peru.  It includes the Nazca, Ingenio, and Palpa river valleys.  However, in our website we have them separated for ease of viewing.  We have also separated the lines (this page) from the symbols.  Please visit each page in turn to see these last wonders of the world!

 »

Learn More About:  Nazca's Destruction »

The purpose of the long lines is not known, however, some of the lone lines are incredible straight and precise of immense distances.  Frequently they lead over obstacles, such as hills and ravines without any significant deviations

The precision of the long lines over significant distances and following the contour of the land is nothing short of amazing!

Note how the long lines follow right over the top of hills.  The inclined portion of these lines shows erosion, possible do to the nature of the line as a water channel for the infrequent precipitation

Parallel lines might have served to focus on a specific place on the distant horizon, since they converge as they lead off into the distance.

These parallel lines advance right over the hill unbroken or bent

Narrow parallel lines alongside of a cruder runway/trapezoid, near the front of the arrow/shell symbol

A trapezoid is a triangular shaped line or symbol.  From the narrow point, it might be possible to see a segment of the horizon, such as where the sun might rise or set between specific dates.  Or from the wide end, focus on a particular place on the distant horizon.

Trapezoids near the spiral

An unusual cluster of trapezoids in the Cantalloc area

A perfect trapezoid

A trapezoid the flow up and over a hill and continues

A grouping of trapezoids

A segmented trapezoid set

Another segmented trapezoid

A narrow trapezoid at angle to a runway cluster

What appears to be an outline trapezoid (upper right flowing to lower left), with another in the center bottom to center top

A heavily eroded object - an outline trapezoid or diverging lines?

A very small trapezoid - only a few meters long next to the arrow/shell symbol

Runways are different than lines, in that they are wide cleared paths of unknown purpose.  They could be astronomical sight lines, however the labor seems unnecessary.  They may have been ceremonial avenues.  However, what is clear is that they represent significant constructions.

Note that a part of the runway, or figures alongside it or originally underneath it have been erased

A runway running over a trapezoid - Some runways form intersecting patterns

Some runways are formed from nonparallel sides

A chaotic cluster of runways, trapezoids, and lines

This is the runway divided by the Panamerican highway with nearby trapezoid and other runway

Note the outline runway with the solid runway within

Parallel Runways

Complex runway configuration - near the observation tower - note circular hole (dotted Line) pattern along the end of the large runway

Several lines, trapezoids, and runways flow right over hills with a high degree of precision in their straightness

Clearly this symbol can only be viewed entirely from the summit of the hill that it flows over

A radial point - lines radiating from a central point.  note there is an oddness to this pattern, lines do not intersect at a central point, several are off center, and some are not perfectly straight - leading to the hypothesis that they are not al contemporaneous

A radial point

A palimpsest is a manuscript page, whether from scroll or book that has been written on, scraped off, and used again.  In our context, we are referring to the desert itself as the page of this manuscript, that has been written then erased and rewritten.

Note what appears to be a symbol overwritten by a runway and trapezoid

There appears to be numerous lines and shapes overwritten in this cluster - A good example of designs overwriting other designs.  The question is how much later were the top-most designs created.

The clustering of lines and trapezoids is a significant mystery. 
Why so many lines, in overlapping designs?

Note the precision in the spacing of each lobe of the cycles of the zigzags - like a frequency modulated signal

New lines and symbols are being discovered all the time.  The need to fully document these monuments to the regions ancient cultures is greater than ever.  With abuse, destruction, and changes in weather, if we do not document them all now, we may never know what there was.

If you plan to travel to Peru, photograph everything!  (psst! send us copies?)

Also feel free to explore yourself online using Google Earth!! 

Nazca Lines