The Nazca Lines are a series of large ancient geoglyphs in the Nazca Desert of southern Peru. They were created by the Nazca people between 500 BC and 500 AD and cover an area of around 50 square miles. The lines consist of hundreds of figures, including animals, plants, and geometric shapes, and are created by removing the top layer of reddish-brown iron oxide-coated rocks to reveal the lighter-colored earth underneath. The Nazca Lines are thought to have had religious or astronomical purposes, but their exact meaning and use is still a mystery. The Nazca Lines have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are a popular tourist attraction in Peru.