The Nazca Lines are located in which Peruvian desert?

The Nazca Lines are located in Peru’s Nazca Desert.

The geoglyphs spread across an arid plateau in southern Peru, particularly around the Pampas de Jumana between Nazca and Palpa. Ancient people created them by removing the dark, iron-oxide-coated pebbles on the surface, exposing the lighter soil beneath. The resulting lines and figures include hummingbirds, monkeys, spiders, condors, trees and geometric shapes.

Most of the designs date from roughly 500 BC to AD 500, spanning Paracas and Nazca cultural phases. Their purpose remains debated. Researchers have proposed religious rituals, sacred pathways, water-related ceremonies and astronomical associations, but no single explanation accounts for every design. The dry, nearly rainless climate has helped preserve the shallow markings for centuries.

The lines were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. They are often associated exclusively with the Nazca culture, although some nearby Palpa geoglyphs are older and linked to the Paracas culture. The famous figures are best appreciated from elevated viewpoints or aircraft, though many lines are visible from surrounding hills.