Monday, April 18, 2011
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH - NAZCA LINES (PERU)
The Nazca lines are geoglyphs or pictures on the ground. The lines form complex figures: monkeys, spiders, hummingbirds, condors, pelicans, seagulls, orcas, snakes, alligators, human figures, and hundreds more. These shapes can be only seen in their entirety from an aerial view. The Nazca lines are located between the cities of Palpa and Nazca, in Ica, Peru. The Nazca Lines are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scientists believe the Nazca Lines were created by the Nazca culture between 200 BCE and 700 CE. They were made in the ground by removing the reddish pebbles on the surface and uncovering the light-coloured ground underneath. Many scholars believe the lines were created for religious purposes.