Peruvian Geoglyph

May 04, 2005

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Provided by: Claudia Perko, Clara Barton H.S., Brooklyn, NY
Summary authors & editors: Claudia Perko

The above photo was taken in February 2005 and shows a giant geoglyph, known as the “El Candelabro,” in the desert hills of southern Peru. This area, which is on the Paracas Peninsula, is about 250 km south of the Peruvian capital city of Lima. The candelabra-shaped etching can best be seen from the sea, for instance, on a tour to the Islas Ballestas -- an important wildlife reserve in Peru. The origin and purpose of the “Candelabro” isn't known, but the theories are numerous. Some think it represent a cactus (an important symbol of power), others think it was used as a navigational tool to guide sailors into the bay of Paracas, while others link it to the famous and mysterious Nazca Lines, about 200 km to the south.

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