Friday, May 22, 2009

Pathways to the Gods (Nazca, Peru)

Ever since reading Erich von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods? as a child, I’ve been enchanted by the mysterious travel wonders of the Nazca Lines. Though, even as a child, I have never entertained the notion that this was used as an airport for alien spacecraft, the idea that a past culture etched super-sized motifs of animals, birds and sea-life into this harsh desert landscape struck me as truly bizarre.

Evidence that this ramshackle unattractive town once attracted an advanced culture is not only evident in the world-famous lines but also in a mesmerising aqueduct system that supplied water for farming the parched soils of this unforgiving desolate area.

The geography of this area ensures that the lines created a couple of thousand years ago still exist. Each line and image is created as a single continuous line, clearing the thin layer of darker metallic soil and unveiling the pale coloured sandy ground below. Completely devoid of vegetation and with virtually no recorded rainfall and unchanging windless conditions, these small furrows etched into the soil have survived the ravages of time. Hundreds of lines and trapezoidal shapes, kilometres long, crisscross this huge arid expanse, combined with roughly seventy stylized animal figures or geoglyphs, many over 100 metres across.

The only way to properly appreciate the sight is from the air. Not for those with weak stomachs, light aircraft take visitors on thirty to forty minute morning flights traversing the desert area and tipping the plane from side to side like a carnival ride to offer everyone good views of the most significant figures.

The spider has a special story. One theory is that it is a diagram of the sacred Orion constellation. Another details that it is a particular rare giant spider only found deep in the Amazon valley, many thousand of miles away. The male of this spider has its reproductive organ at the tail end of one of its legs (visible only under microscope) and this appendage is clear in photos of the Nazca image (it is the bottom left leg in the photo).

A monkey with a spiral tail, a hummingbird, a killer whale, a condor, a strange astronaut figure, a huge lizard (cut in two by the highway, built before the figures were apparent), a dog, a spider, a flamingo (which is over 300 metres long) and other animal figures litter the landscape like a whimsical zoo, no geoglyph being repeated.

With the spiral shape being an ancient symbol for water, a commodity more valuable than gold in this dusty parched environment, claims that the area represents a water ceremony for the gods may make more sense than some of the far-fetched theories espoused by supposed scientists. Whether this large Peruvian pampas was an extraterrestrial landing strip, an advanced astronomical and agricultural calendar, exotic ancient art or something completely different, we are unlikely to ever truly know. Being halfway between the capital, Lima, and the stunning colonial city of Arequipa, it is well worth a stop to view and wonder about these unforgettable desert markings, along with the ingenious aqueduct system and ancient burial grounds in the same area.

Other Peru Posts
Potatoes with your Guinea Pig, Sir?
Exploring the Incan Wonderland (Machu Picchu)
Trekking to the Lost City (Inca Trail)
Flight of the Condor (Colca Canyon)
Living in Reeds (Lake Titicaca)
Top Ten Travel Wonders of South America

12 comments:

Trotter said...

Hi Marc! Sorry for the absence, but I’ve been busy with my parents’ health; almost 180 years to care... ;)
Wonderful post! I'm sorry that my trip to Peru was a professional one and let no time for travelling around the country; one day I'll make it. Meanwhile I see your wonderful posts!

Blogtrotter is paying homage to Vilnius as European Capital of Culture 2009 and waits for your comments. ;) Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

Mark H said...

@trotter: I hope that your parents are getting healthier.

Pierre said...

Some fascinating insights, Mark - thanks for sharing! Congratulations on such an informative Blog; I look forward to your future posts.

JessieV said...

that is SO cool. great photos. i hadn't heard of these yet - we'll have to make sure to see them!

Mark H said...

@pierre: Thank you. You should consider subscribing.

@jessiev: Thank you.

Vera Marie Badertscher said...

Would love to see this some day. How amazing.

Barbara @ Hole In The Donut Travels said...

Every time I visit I get lost for an hour or more - every post speaks about a place I want to go!

Mark H said...

@vera: I hope that you get to Peru to see some extraordinary places.

@barbara: One of my favourite visitors. Thank you as always for your kind remarks.

Joshua said...

Peru is definitely a golden place, it has everything that makes you have an unforgettable vacations. I suggest to everybody to visit this beautiful country and if you go, I recommend hiring Kawsay, a travel agency that works responsible tourism and give you the opportunity to know Peru in a different way. Its website is http://www.perufairtravel.com/

Gordon Mckay said...

Nazca is an amazing place but I will always remember my journey to the Amazon in Peru; it was an unforgettable experience that changes my life. If you have the opportunity to visit Peru, you must go to the Amazon and stay for at least a week to know biological reserves, parks, rivers, and its flora and fauna. Also, I want to recommend you to stay in Rainforest Expeditions, an Amazon lodges in Peru that offers the best of this part of Peru. If you want more information visit its websites http://www.perunature.com

Anonymous said...

It took me a long time to search online, only your site unfold the fully details, bookmarked and thanks again.

- Kris

Mark H said...

@Joshua: Peru is a special place

@gordon: I enjoyed the Amazon too

@anonyous: Thank you. Please return.

 
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