Nazca Lines

Google Earth was introduced in 2005 and for the first time in human history the average person suddenly had access to the kind of satellite observation technology that had been restricted to NASA and government security agencies.  Since then millions of people have used the software to study the surface of Planet Earth.  A favourite subject has been the mysterious and enigmatic Nazca Lines of Peru.  Largely located in the arid desert of the Pampas de Jumana between the towns of Nazca and Palpa these huge geoglyphs have intrigued scientists and archaeologists since they were discovered by the American anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber in 1926. As they are really only visible from a few hundred metres above the desert plateau their origin and purpose has puzzled investigators for decades.  Theories about the lines and geoglyphs have ranged from extra-terrestrial runways to water-sourcing religious ceremonies. Unfortunately they have been hard to spot.  To assist Google Earth travellers, and to correct many incorrect maps, Curious Britain has compiled the most accurate and  complete list of Lines and geoglyphs including interactive Google Maps and precise Google Earth 'latitude and longitude' co-ordinates. 

REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS

The lines and geoglyphs also include the Palpa Geoglyphs located further to the north and the spirals south of Nazca. The lines in Google Earth are spread out over a large area roughly 55 kilometres in length. The Paracas Candelabra is not a Nazca geoglyph even though it is often shown as one. Not all the geoglyphs are old. Enterprising locals and irresponsible tourists have added to the original lines and designs. These include the Palpa Logo and the Palpa Peace Symbol (2009). There is quite a lot of modern graffiti - particularly words and dates. Some of the designs are obscured by other lines, tyre tracks from cars and even modern roads. The maps provided by local travel agencies and charter airlines are often very inaccurate. Most of the geoglyphs are very much smaller than maps and charts suggest from the size of their drawings. Not all of the geoglyphs can be seen with clarity on Google Earth. Some of the creatures on the Nazca plains have several different names which can lead to confusion. (See full list of Nazca Geoglyphs below) Photographs found on the internet often have the wrong names attached to them and photos uploaded to Google Earth by Panaramio users are often in the wrong locations. Quite a lot of books and websites state that is impossible to create a 'Nazca Image or line without sophisticated equipment.  This simply isn't true.  Although some of the images are large, marking out a design and scraping away the upper layer of soil and pebbles is actual both quick and easy and does not require modern surveying equipment. Although the Nazca lines and geoglyphs are best viewed from the air and Google Earth there are several natural vantage points from which the lines can be seen.  In addition, a fair number of the Geoglyphs are on the sides of hills and can be clearly seen from the ground.

MAIN NAZCA AND PALPA GEOGLYPHS WITH GOOGLE EARTH CO-ORDINATES

#	NAME OF LINES OR GEOGLYPH		TOWN		GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES		BEST DATE		BEST ALTITUDE
1.	ASTRONAUT / Nazca Astronaut (Spaceman / Priest)		Nazca		14 44'42.71"S 75 4'47.24"W		2010		+/- 750m
2.	BABY CONDOR (Dinosaur)				14 47'25.74"S 75 0'22.85"W		2010		+/- 670m
3.	CONDOR/ Nazca Condor (Big Hummingbird)		Nazca		14 41'50.09"S 75 7'34.59"W		2010		+/- 800
4.	DOG (Chien / Perro)				14 42'23.02"S 75 7'50.84"W		2010		+/- 620m
5.	El HOMBRE (The Man / Long Coat)		Palpa		14 33'22.16"S 75 10'7.66"W		2010		+/- 750m
6.	EL VIAJERO - West (Traveller / Mexican / Top Hat)		Palpa		14 35'36.63"S 75 12'17.41"W		2009		+/- 750m
7.	El VIAJERO - East (The Traveller)		Palpa		14 35'53.88"S 75 10'32.56"W		2005		+/- 700m
8.	FAMILY OF PARACAS (Nazca Family Group)		Palpa		14 35'31.88"S 75 12'11.11"W		2009		+/- 500m
9.	FERTILIDAD / Fertility (Old Woman)		Palpa		14 33'22.62"S 75 10'8.34"W		2010		+/- 700m
10.	FISH (Catfish)		Nazca		Image Not Visible
11.	FLAMINGO (Heron / Arum / Alcatraz		Nazca		14 41'8.49"S 75 6'49.18"W		2005		+/- 700m
12.	FLOWER (Spinner)				14 41'37.60"S 75 7'5.38"W		2010		+/- 650m
13.	FRIGATE BIRD - East (Guaney Bird)		Nazca		14 41'8.55"S 75 6'39.91"W		2010		+/- 700m
14.	FRIGATE BIRD - West (Guaney Bird)		Nazca		14 41'44.03"S 75 7'36.06"W		2010		+/- 690m
15.	HANDS (Hands Monster / Small Man)		Nazca		14 41'40.00"S 75 6'50.01"W		2010		+/- 850m
16.	HUMMINGBIRD - Kokos (Starburst)		Palpa		14 34'46.52"S 75 10'26.28"W		2010		+/-670m
17.	HUMMINGBIRD - Small		Nazca		14 41'31.59"S 75 8'55.90"W		2010		+/-700m
18.	HUMMINGBIRD - Palpa		Palpa		Coordinates Required
19.	IGUANA (Aligator) (Not Visible/ Damaged)		Nazca		14 41'25.35"S 75 6'57.75"W		N/A		N/A
20.	LA MUJER (The Woman)		Palpa		Coordinates Requires
21.	LIZARD - Gheko (Hard to see / Split by Road)		Nazca		14 41'34.47"S 75 6'49.67"W		2010		+/-750m
22.	LLAMAS (Very Small)		Nazca		14 42'29.95"S 75 9'3.45"W		2010		+/-560m
23.	LOBSTER (Located 2010 by Japanese		Nazca		Coordinates Unavailable
24.	MANDALA - Square (Compass / Star )				14 38'39.67"S 75 10'17.39"W		2010		+/-900m
25	MANDALA - Circles (Compass)		Nazca		14 38'38.72"S 75 10'15.71"W		2010		+/-720m
26	MONKEY/ New World Monkey (El Mono / Singe)		Nazca		14 42'24.93"S 75 8'18.40"W		2010		+/-730m
27.	MONSTER - Palpa Monster (Shark II)		Palpa		14 31'26.91"S 75 11'58.93"W		2009		+/-750m
28.	MUSHROOM (Partial Bird)				14 41'52.67"S 75 8'7.11"W		2010		+/-680
29.	NEEDLES (Nazca Town Zigzag)		Nazca		14 50'11.80"S 74 54'6.90"W		2010		+/-1.5km
30.	ORCA (Shark / Sea Monster)				14 40'42.80"S 75 5'53.97"W		2010		+/-950m
31.	PARROT / Le Perroquet (Ant / Dragonfly / Loro)		Nazca		14 41'21.95"S 75 6'26.81"W		2010		+/-1.1km
32.	PELICAN - North (Eagle & Trident)		Palpa		Coordinates Required
33.	PELICAN - South (Often confused with Condor & Flamingo)		Nazca		Coordinates Required
34.	SEAWEED - 1 Example of 5 (Sea Plant / Agae)				14 41'24.13"S 75 7'21.71"W		2010		+/-1km
35.	SHELLS / Sea Shells (Delta / Wing)		Nazca		14 40'49.20"S 75 6'1.73"W		2010		+/-830m
36.	SPIDER (Arana / Araignee / Spion)				14 41'38.88"S 75 7'20.57"W		2010		+/-700m
37.	SPIRAL - Primary Large		Nazca		14 41'17.77"S 75 7'21.93"W		2010		+/-830m
38.	SPIRAL - Primary Small		Nazca		14 41'22.71"S 75 8'17.91"W		2010		+/-710m
39.	SPIRAL IN SQUARE		Nazca		14 39'27.31"S 75 6'52.84"W		2010		+/-720m
40.	SPIRAL & DIVIDERS				14 41'19.55"S 75 6'57.64"W		2010		+/-1.5km
41.	SPIRALS - INTERLINKED (Infinity)		Palpa		14 31'7.60"S 75 11'23.00"W		2010		+/-815m
42.	SPIRAL - Tears (Tears of the Nazca)				14 50'19.48"S 74 55'2.99"W		2010		+/-850m
43.	STAR (Fan / Starburst)		Nazca		14 41'27.64"S 75 8'40.80"W		2010		+/-700m
44.	TRAPEZOIDS - Famous				14 47'53.51"S 75 3'21.38"W		2010		+/-1.5km
45.	TREE (Huarango Tree / Tree of Life)		Nazca		14 41'37.83"S 75 6'51.79"W		2010		+/-750m
46.	TUMI - KNIFE (Arrow / sword)		Palpa		14 31'57.84"S 75 12'46.51"W		2010		+/-700m
47.	STRANGE SYMBOLS (Unlisted Geoglyphs)		Palpa		14 38'30.73"S 75 5'50.20"W		2010		+/-950m
48.	WHALE (Ballena)				14 49'0.03"S 74 59'40.89"W		2010		+/-780m

GRAFFITI (NAZCA & PALPA) Samples Only

1.	APRA 85		Palpa		14 31'30.40"S 75 11'49.62"W		2010		+/- 750m
2.	COG - East		Palpa		14 31'52.37"S 75 10'10.41"W		2010		+/- 870m
3.	COG - West		Palpa		14 31'50.49"S 75 12'32.84"W		2010		+/- 800
4.	NARANJA / Logo		Palpa		14 31'15.37"S 75 11'10.34"W		2010		+/- 620m
5.	PEACE SYMBOL		Nazca		14 40'7.14"S 75 7'56.37"W		2010		+/- 750m

Useful Information

Location Address:

Nearest Towns & Villages:
Nazca, Peru
Palpa, Peru
Estudiantes, Peru
Nearest City with International Airport:
Lima, Peru /
Jorge Chavez International Airport
+/- 6 hours drive to Nazca

Travellers Be Aware:
If taking a 'package tour' of the Nazca lines it is very important to make sure you know what you will be getting. Some people have been very disapointed with the high prices and short air trips over the geoglyphs. Local maps are often inaccurate and pilots have a habit of sometimes just making up names for the desert images.