I first learned of the Nazca Desert images of Peru in the late 1970s. I wanted to see thesm ever since. During our 2025 visit to Peru, I finally had my chance. Winnie and I spent a day visiting the desert town of Nazca, and flew over the Nazca lines etched into the desert.
Our flight was at about 11:30AM, so the sun was high and reduced the contrast of the lines. The lines themselves were created by digging several inches into the desert sands which uncovered lighter-colored soils than on the surface. As there has been almost no significant rainfall over the past several thousand years, these lines have been mostly well preserved. At present, researchers have identified over 700 images in this region, and are continuing to discover more using satellite imaging and computer enhancements.
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Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Spiral
The Spiral. One of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - A Spiral and Straight Lines
The Spiral and straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed. The highway running through the desert is the Pan-American Highway, part of a network of roads running from northern Alaska all the way down North America, Central and South America down to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - Humming Bird and Straight Lines
A hummingbird and straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Dog
A stylized image of a dog. One of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - Straight Lines and Geometric Shapes
Straight Lines and geometric shapes. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - Humming Bird and Straight Lines
A hummingbird and straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Condor
The Condor. One of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - A Spiral and Straight Lines
The Spiral and straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Parrot and Straight Lines
The Parrot and straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Octopus
The Octopus. One of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Spider
The Spider. One of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Parrot and Straight Lines
The Parrot and straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - Straight Lines and Geometric Shapes
Straight Lines and geometric shapes. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Parrot
The Parrot, intermixed with a series of straight lines. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - Tree with Hands
A figure of a tree, with hands in the lower right side. Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Images Created in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Cat
The Paracas Culture pre-date the Nazca culture and located to the north of Nazca. The Paracas built their images (geoglyphs) using stones instead of digging trenches. This geoglyph is a image of a cat.
Lines Created in The Nazca Desert of Peru - Paracas Culture
The Paracas Culture pre-date the Nazca culture and located to the north of Nazca. The Paracas built their images (geoglyphs) using stones instead of digging trenches. This geoglyph is a set of lines believed to mark the direction of flow of an underground aquifer.
Lines Engraved in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Lizard
The Lizard (?) Or a dinosaur (?) - Part of over 700 geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. These lines were created between 500BC and 500AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
Images Created in The Nazca Desert of Peru - The Paracas People
The Paracas Culture pre-date the Nazca culture and located to the north of Nazca. The Paracas built their images (geoglyphs) using stones instead of digging trenches. This geoglyph is a group of people, possibly warriors or Gods. Some of these images predate the associated Nazca lines by over 1000 years.
Images Created in The Nazca Desert of Peru - - The Paracas People
The Paracas Culture pre-date the Nazca culture and located to the north of Nazca. The Paracas built their images (geoglyphs) using stones instead of digging trenches. This geoglyph is a person, possibly a warrior or God. Some of these images predate the associated Nazca lines by over 1000 years.
For more information on these mysterious images, Visit the Wikipedia page “Nazca Lines.”
Bonus Images
A few photos around the town of Nazca.
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