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- Destinations
- South America
- Peru
- Lima
- The Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines
Nazca is a small desert town, named for the Nazca civilisation
that came after the Paracas culture, and it is a major attraction
due to the mysterious presence of the lines and diagrams etched
into the surrounding desert floor. It also has some interesting
museums and archaeological sites, including the Chauchilla
Cemetery, with 12 exposed underground tombs containing skeletons
and preserved mummified forms. The main attraction of the town is
an aerial flight over the Nazca Lines that are spread over miles of
the vast desert floor. The dimensions of these enormous figures,
geometric designs, spirals and perfectly straight lines are so
large that the only way to view them is from the air and pilots
will point out the outlines of intriguing bird and animal
representations such as the hummingbird, monkey, condor, spider,
and the unusual cartoon-like character known as the Astronaut.
These figures were made by removing sun-darkened stones from the
desert floor to expose the lighter coloured stones below, and were
created over a thousand years ago. Theories abound regarding the
mysterious desert etchings, and questions as to why they were
created, how they were designed and what technology was used,
remain unanswered and have puzzled experts for centuries. The Nazca
Lines are among the most unforgettable and strangest sights in the
country, an extraordinary legacy left by the ancient people of the
Nazca culture, and one of the great mysteries of South America.
Information & Facts
Address
Nazca is a few miles in from the coast, 280 miles (175km)
southeast of Lima
Language
Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many
other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist
centres and hotels.
Money
The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100
céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all
major international credit cards, including Diners Club and
MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments.
Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travellers cheques may
also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and
travellers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the
easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and
shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment.
Casas de cambio(exchange bureaux) often give better rates
than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist
circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.
Time