The Lizard

The Lizard is one of the zoomorphic animal figures of the Nazca Lines, a group of large-scale ground drawings etched into the desert surface of southern Peru. It is located on the Pampas de Jumana, an arid plateau where minimal wind and rainfall have preserved the geoglyphs for many centuries.

The Nazca Lines were created by the Nazca culture, which flourished in southern Peru roughly between 100 BCE and 800 CE. The geoglyphs were made by removing the dark surface stones to reveal the lighter-colored ground beneath, forming lines and figures that are best visible from the air.

While some Nazca Lines are partially visible from nearby hillsides, the full shapes of the larger animal figures like the Lizard are best appreciated from the air. Most tourists view the geoglyphs through small aircraft flights departing from airports near the town of Nazca.

The Nazca Lines face threats from weather events, human encroachment, and vehicular damage — the Pan-American Highway already cuts through part of the Nazca desert. UNESCO designated the lines a World Heritage Site, and Peruvian authorities restrict ground access to protect the fragile surface drawings.