Mystery of the Nasca Lines

The Nasca Lines consist of hundreds of simple lines, as well as more elaborate geometric shapes and figures of hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, and even an astronaut. The Nasca Lines are believed to have been created between 500 BC and 500 AD, which only adds to the mystery and intrigue of why, and how, they were created. The Nasca Lines are located in the Nazca Desert which is one of the driest deserts in the world. The lack of rain and absence of wind are attributed to the preservation of the designs, which consist of shallow lines, or trenches, that reveal the lighter clay beneath the pebbles and top surface of the desert floor. The aerial view is fascinating. But, if you go, you have to be on your toes because the figures come up fast and are gone before you have too much time to linger with composition, camera settings and such. My advice is to just start snapping photos without pixel peeping too much and focus on enjoying the view because this plane ride ended much too soon. I could have spent hours up there taking it all in.

Nasca Lines Collage Digital Photography © 2015 SuZan Alexander

(Thank you to our fellow "explorers" for taking the picture of us with the plane (top photo that has been horribly cropped to fit the collage format).)

Next week, we will trade in the airplanes and buses for a boat and head out to Ballestas Island, sometimes referred to as the "poor man's Galapagos". Until then...

Happy Trails...