| What are the Nazca Lines? | | | | bring these theories to life. |
| Not much can be said with any degree of | | | | One thing that most scholars are willing to agree |
| certainty about the Nazca Lines, other than their | | | | upon, is that the Nazca Lines probably have some |
| location and vague definition. Situated in the Nazca | | | | sort of religious significance to those that created |
| desert in Peru, a series of geoglyphs can be | | | | them. Precisely what significance they have is up |
| found. This is a central tourist attraction in the | | | | for debate, however. |
| region, with many Peru tours taking visitors to the | | | | Some believe that the Nazca people designed |
| site, and many theories proposed as to their | | | | these enormous patterns so that they could |
| creation. | | | | communicate with the gods in the sky, while |
| The geogylphs are made up of hundreds of | | | | others believe that the lines are sacred paths |
| figures, covering a range of different designs. The | | | | leading to points of worship of the gods of water. |
| images range from llamas, lizards, monkeys and | | | | A Peru holiday will allow you to walk along these |
| snakes, to hummingbirds, monkeys and sharks. | | | | paths yourself, where you can worship the water |
| The images are defined by lines in the ground, | | | | gods, or simply marvel at your surroundings. |
| made from shallow etchings where the red | | | | Theories as to how the lines were made have |
| pebbles have been scratched away, uncovering | | | | also been postulated. One of the central points of |
| the lighter, whitish ground beneath. If you want to | | | | debate is how the Nazca people were able to |
| see these great designs when on a Peru holiday, | | | | create designs which they could not have seen in |
| you will need to arrange to view these by air, as | | | | their entirety from the ground, and without |
| the images are too large to be viewed from the | | | | modern tools. Some theorise that they used hot |
| ground. | | | | air balloons, although this is supported by virtually |
| It has been determined that the Nazca lines were | | | | no evidence. It is generally agreed that the Nazca |
| created between 200 BC and AD 700 by a | | | | people used simple tools and surveying equipment, |
| society in the Nazca desert. What is particularly | | | | supported by the finding of a wooden stake at |
| fascinating is the way in which these people were | | | | the end of one of the lines. |
| able to construct images on such a large scale (big | | | | A Conspiracy Theorist's Opinion |
| enough that they can only be viewed from the | | | | Mysterious markings such as these lend |
| sky) without the aid of modern technological | | | | themselves to conspiracy theories. Simply chatting |
| equipment. | | | | to the locals when on a Peru holiday will probably |
| Thoughts and Theories | | | | give you a lot of insight into such theories. |
| Many theories have been put forward regarding | | | | Conspiracy theorists have concocted beliefs |
| the creation of the Nazca Lines, but no concrete | | | | involving the Illuminati's plans for world domination, |
| evidence exists to confirm any one particular | | | | and alien spaceship landing strips. But the best |
| theory. While you may not solve the riddle on | | | | way to explore such beliefs is to ask your guide |
| your tour of Peru, visiting the region will at least | | | | when on a Peru tour. |