A view of the pampas from above
Ali and I climbed onboard the 5-seater plane and placed the earphones over our ears. Within a few moments we were flying across the Pampas looking for mysterious works of art which are only visible or made clear from above. It took me a while to adjust to the scale but once I got my first sighting it was set. “Look down, look down” the Japanese pilot instructed. The tiny little plane tipped onto its side and flew almost vertically as it encircled the first image beneath us. A giant whale! The markings were created by removing dark stones from the desert surface to expose the lighter earth beneath. An impressive undertaking when you think how big the images are (between 50 and 150 meters). But who constructed the gigantic lines and for what reason? And why bother when they can only be properly appreciated from the air? Ali tapped me on the shoulder, reached for the sick bag in front of her and spent the rest of the flight pale faced. I found this highly unusual considering Ali is all for jumping out of planes or off extremely high bridges. Apparently it was the bumpiness which made her sick. I made sure she was going to be okay then continued to look at the bewildering designs.
The vast expanse of desert was largely ignored until 1939 when plane pilots stumbled across the bizarre markings by chance. Today, they are claimed to be "one of ancient Peru’s most impressive and enigmatic achievements". Needless to say, Nazca is continuously inundated by travelers who come to see the "lines" which are spread across an area of 500 sq km. The mysterious lines form an impressive network of over 800 lines, 300 figures, and some 70 animal and plant drawings. My favorite is the 90m-long monkey, but others include; a condor with a 130m wingspan, a hummingbird, a spider and an intriguing figure popularly referred to as an astronaut because of its goldfish bowl head.
Ali and I just before take-off
The monkey
The lines were re-discovered by Paul Kosch in 1920 but Maria Reiche, a German mathematician who extensively researched the subject theorized that they were made by the Paracas and Nazca cultures from 900 BC to 600 AD. She claimed the lines were an astronomical calendar mapped out by sophisticated mathematics, while other theories claim the lines were some sort of ritual walkways. As many of the lines relate or even point towards water sources, it is also thought that the images were perhaps a prayer to the gods for more rain. Whatever their original purpose, they’re a marvel to look at. Fortunately, one of us was well enough to take pictures! Of course, it may be difficult for you to make out the images but I can assure you the descriptions are accurate.
The cockpit
The "astronaut"
The plane
