The Nazca Lines are strange. They were discovered in 1927 when someone was hiking across some hills in this desolate, sandy desert in sourthern Peru. Can you imagine looking down from the hilltop to see the image of a waving astronaut carved into the earth below? And then a condor and a hummingbird and a monkey and dog.
There are images of all kinds of animals and dozens of geometric shapes and lines etched into the earth. It is believed that the lines were created by people of the ancient Nazca culture around 600 A.D. They apparently cut away the red top layer of earth to expose the white rock beneath.
Of course, the big question is why did they do it? Some theorize that the shapes and lines correspond with constellations and other astronomical points of interest. Others believe the shapes were designed as a huge map pointing the way to water sources. My favorite theory is that the area served as a sort of landing strip for extraterrestrial crafts, and the shapes and lines were there as welcome signs and landing guides.
Personally, after spending just a day in this place, I think it is possible that the people were really bored and wanted to express themselves creatively through the art of earth carving. Also, it is possible that people in ancient times were always carving away at the surface of the earth. Only in Nazca were the designs preserved, though, because there is little to no wind or rain to erode them away.
Here are a few photos that I took from the airplane window:
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