Editing Nazca

{{short description|Archaeological site and modern city in Peru}}
{{About||the archaeological site|Nazca Lines|the culture it belonged to|Nazca culture|other uses|Nazca (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed |date=February 2013 }}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name              = Nazca
|other_name                 =
|native_name                = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                   =
|motto                      =
| image_skyline          = {{Photomontage	
| photo1a = Nasca_-_Plaza_de_Armas_-_panoramio.jpg
| photo2a = Kousek_od_Nasca_-_panoramio.jpg
| photo2b = Ulička_Calao_v_Nasca_-_panoramio.jpg
| photo3a = Nasca main square garden.jpg
| photo3b = Cantalloc_"cantayo".jpg
| photo4a = Los_Paredones,_Nazca,_Perú,_2015-07-29,_DD_29.JPG
| photo4b = Líneas de Nazca, Nazca, Perú, 2015-07-29, DD 49.JPG
| spacing = 1
| position = center	 	
| color_border = white	 	
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| size = 260	 	
| foot_montage = 
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|imagesize                  = 250px
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|image_flag                 = Bandera_Nazca.png
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|pushpin_map                = Peru
|pushpin_label_position     =
|subdivision_type           = Country
|subdivision_name           = {{PER}}
|subdivision_type1          = [[Regions of Peru|Region]]
|subdivision_name1          = [[Ica Region|Ica]]
|subdivision_type2          = [[Provinces of Peru|Province]]
|subdivision_name2          = [[Nazca Province|Nazca]]
|subdivision_type3          =
|subdivision_name3          =
|subdivision_type4          =
|subdivision_name4          =
|government_type            =
|leader_title               = Mayor
|leader_name                = Julio Oscar Elías Lucana
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|leader_title2              =
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|leader_title3              =
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|leader_title4              =
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|established_title          = Founded
|established_date           = 17 November 1591
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|pop_est_as_of          =2015
|pop_est_footnotes      =<ref>{{cite report |url=http://proyectos.inei.gob.pe/web/biblioineipub/bancopub/Est/Lib1020/cuadros/c0206.xls |title=Perú: Población estimada al 30 de junio y tasa de crecimiento de las ciudades capitales, por departamento, 2011 y 2015 |work=Perú: Estimaciones y proyecciones de población total por sexo de las principales ciudades, 2012-2015 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática |date=March 2012 |access-date=2015-06-03}}</ref>
|population_est         =39054
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|coordinates                = {{coord|14|49|44|S|74|56|37|W|region:PE|display=inline}}
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|elevation_m                = 520
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'''Nazca''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɑː|s|k|ɑː|,_|-|k|ə}}; sometimes spelled '''Nasca'''; possibly from {{langx|qu|nanasqa|4=hurt}}) is a city and system of valleys on the southern coast of [[Peru]]. The city of Nazca is the largest in the [[Nazca Province]]. The name is derived from the [[Nazca culture]], which flourished in the area between 100 BC and AD 800. This culture was responsible for the [[Nazca Lines]] and the ceremonial city of [[Cahuachi]]. They also constructed additional underground [[aqueduct (watercourse)|aqueducts]], named [[puquios]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.academia.edu/32006899 | title=Chapter 27 Puquios and Aqueducts in the Central Andes of South America | work=Underground Aqueducts Handbook | date=2016 | page=465 | last1=Lane | first1=Kevin }}</ref> in a regional system that still functions today. The first puquios are believed to have been built by the preceding [[Paracas culture]].

Nazca is the capital of the Nazca Province located in the [[Ica District]] of the [[Department of Ica|Ica Region]] of Peru.

== Earthquake ==
{{Main|1996 Nazca earthquake}}
On November 12, 1996, at 11:59&nbsp;a.m. local time (16:59 GMT) there was an [[1996 Nazca earthquake|earthquake]] of magnitude 7.5 with its epicenter at 7.7&nbsp;km into the sea.  The earthquake almost completely destroyed the city of Nazca and its surroundings. Due to its occurrence during the day, there were only 14 fatalities.  However, 1,500 people were injured and around 100,000 were left homeless. Within 12 years Nazca has been almost completely rebuilt.

Since 1997, Nazca has been the location of a major Canadian gold mining operation. The indigenous people at the time did not own the rights to their traditional communal lands.  As a result, they were forcibly displaced.  Since then, they have sought to legalize their ancient ownership of land and fixed property.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024|reason=I tried to look into this... there are many foreign gold-mining-corporations which operate in Peru, including some ones based in Canada. There has also been some news about limestone mining in the area recently, but I can't find anything that makes the specific claim this paragraph does. I don't think it's implausable, but this is the type you really have to include a citation for.}}

==Geography==
===Climate===

[[File:Fruteria in Nazca, Peru.jpg|thumb|A fruit stand with sandwiches open early for breakfast in Nazca near the main farmers market]]
Nazca is one of the most arid regions in the world, with an average annual precipitation of 4 millimeters. Nazca's weather is controlled by the [[Humboldt Current]], which carries water from Antarctica up the west coast of South America.

This cold ocean water cools the air and limits the accumulation of moisture within clouds; as a result, though clouds and fog are able to form, there is little rain.

Nazca's temperatures range from 10 to 32&nbsp;°C with an average daily high of 21&nbsp;°C. Summer months from November to March are dry, sunny, and hot. During the winter from June to August, fog from the coast rolls over the hills to keep temperatures in the moderate range; however, the intense sun makes daylight hours seem hotter than they are.<ref>{{cite book |title=Discovering Nazca Peru |author=Ted E Barker |date=October 2011 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1480220379 }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Nazca
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan high C = 31.8
|Feb high C = 32.4
|Mar high C = 32.6
|Apr high C = 31.6
|May high C = 29.9
|Jun high C = 27.6
|Jul high C = 27.0
|Aug high C = 28.2
|Sep high C = 29.7
|Oct high C = 31.1
|Nov high C = 31.5
|Dec high C = 31.8
|year high C = 30.4
|Jan low C = 17.5
|Feb low C = 18.1
|Mar low C = 17.2
|Apr low C = 15.6
|May low C = 11.3
|Jun low C = 8.1
|Jul low C = 7.2
|Aug low C = 7.9
|Sep low C = 9.3
|Oct low C = 11.5
|Nov low C = 13.4
|Dec low C = 15.9
|year low C = 12.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 0.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 0.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 0.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 0.0
|May precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 0.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 0.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 0.1
|year precipitation mm = 2.1
|source 1 = SENAMHI<ref name=SENAMHI>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170913012822/http://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=pronostico-detalle-turistico&localidad=0008
| archive-date = 13 September 2017
| url = http://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=pronostico-detalle-turistico&localidad=0008
| title = Promedio de temperatura normal para NAZCA
| publisher = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú
| language = es
| access-date = 12 September 2017}}</ref>
|date=October 2013}}

==History==
[[File:Nazca Stadt.jpg|thumb|The city of Nazca]]
There are two versions of the Spanish foundation. According to the writings of chroniclers, the city was founded on October 28, 1548, commissioned by [[Pedro de la Gasca]], peacemaker by [[Alonso de Mendoza]]. The other version states that it was founded in 1591 by the Viceroy [[García Hurtado de Mendoza, 5th Marquis of Cañete]].

During the Spanish colonial period, Nazca was known for viticulture, producing wine and grape brandy (aguardiente de la uva). Today this is commonly called [[pisco]], after the famous port of the same name. Locally, the brandy is known as Nasca. These products were widely distributed throughout the viceroyalty of Peru and beyond.<ref name="cushner">Cushner, Nicholas P. 1980. ''Lords of the Land: Sugar, Wine, and Jesuit Estates of Coastal Peru, 1600-1767.'' Albany: State University of New York Press.</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2020}}

The largest of the Nazca vineyards were located in the rich Ingenio Valley, and were property of the [[Society of Jesus]], Jesuit missionaries and priests.<ref>Macera, Pablo. 1966. ''Instrucciones para el manejo de las haciendas jesuítas del Perú, ss. XVII-XVIII.'' Lima: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos: Facultad de Letras y Ciencias Humanas, Departamento de Historia.</ref> The [[hacienda]] San Joseph de la Nasca, located in the upper part of the middle Ingenio Valley, was owned by the Jesuit College of Cuzco. San Francisco Xavier de la Nasca, in the lower part of the middle valley, was owned by the Jesuit College of San Pablo in Lima. Both of these estates used numerous workers who were enslaved persons of sub-Saharan African descent. In addition to producing wines and brandies, both estates had substantial infrastructure for producing the ceramic storage jars, known as ''botijas,'' in which the wine and brandy was transported.<ref>Negro, Sandra. 2005. "Arquitectura, poder y esclavitud en las haciendas jesuitas de la Nasca en el Perú", In ''Esclavitud, economía y evangelización: Las haciendas jesuitas en la América Virreinal.'' S. Negro and M.M. Marzal, eds. Pp. 449-492. Lima: Fondo Editorial de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.</ref>

Today, the towns of San Javier and San José are known for the ruins of the large 18th-century baroque churches built during the Jesuit administration of these estates. In 1767, following the expulsion of the Society of Jesus by King [[Charles III of Spain]], the Crown confiscated and administered these properties as royal estates.<ref name="cushner"/>{{page needed|date=July 2020}}

[[File:Nazca city square.jpg|alt=Nazca city square|thumb|Nazca city square]]
Nazca Patriots received the Liberating Expedition of General [[Don Jose de San Martin]] on October 14, 1820, after they escaped from the Battle of Nasca. Two days earlier, on October 12, General [[Juan Antonio Álvarez de Arenales]], from Ica, was sent to the South in pursuit of the royal troops of Colonel Manuel Quimper fleeing from Ica. The second commander and  chief of staff of the Division de la Sierra, was Argentine Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Rojas Argerich. He commanded 250 men: 110 infantry and 140 cavalry.

The town of Nasca was established on August 29, 1821. On July 2, 1855, it was elevated to a district and then it became a province on January 23, 1941.

Nasca, as the name is spelled in the 21st century, still has a dry climate. Before and during the time of the Inca, it had a formidable system of hydraulic engineering. The water was accessed through filtration galleries from underground branches, called aqueducts. The openings to the system were called [[puquios]]. More than three dozen continue to operate, to  irrigate farmland and provide domestic needs.

==Nazca lines==
{{Main|Nazca Lines}}
[[File:Líneas de Nazca, Nazca, Perú, 2015-07-29, DD 44.JPG|thumbnail|Nazca Lines]]
[[File:Acueductos subterráneos de Cantalloc, Nazca, Perú, 2015-07-29, DD 02.JPG|thumbnail|Underground [[Cantalloc Aqueducts]]]]
The Nazca culture is famous for its [[Nazca Lines|desert line drawings]], the product of complex construction projects carried out by a hierarchical society from 500 BC to AD 500. Contrary to the popular belief that the lines and figures can be seen only from an aircraft, they are also visible from the surrounding foothills and other high places.<ref name="GardnerCroix1991">''[https://books.google.com/books?id=mYPuAAAAMAAJ Gardner's Art Through the Ages: Ancient, medieval, and non-European art]''. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; 1 January 1991. {{ISBN|978-0-15-503770-0}}.</ref><ref name="Bonnie2016">Hinman, Bonnie. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hQQgCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 Mystery of the Nazca Lines]''. ABDO; 1 January 2016. {{ISBN|978-1-68077-242-5}}. p. 6–.</ref><ref name="Aveni2000">Anthony F. Aveni. ''[https://archive.org/details/betweenlinesmyst00aven/page/88 Between the Lines: The Mystery of the Giant Ground Drawings of Ancient Nasca, Peru]''. University of Texas Press; 2000. {{ISBN|978-0-292-70496-1}}. p. 88–.</ref>  There are innumerable formations of both animals and geometric designs.

Local tour companies sell flights (''sobrevueltos'') over 12 main figures, the most famous of which are the hummingbird, the condor, and the monkey. The spiral tail of the monkey inspired the spiral in the "P" of the Perú logo, which is also found on its currency. [[UNESCO]] declared the Nazca Lines a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1994.

==Airport==
Nazca has a small airport, the [[Maria Reiche Neuman Airport]], used mainly for touristic flights over the Nazca lines. It was named for a woman who did much to study the Nazca lines and bring them to international attention as products of [[pre-Hispanic]] man.

==Notable people==
* [[Martina Portocarrero]] (1949-2022), folk singer, cultural researcher, politician

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline|Nazca|Nazca}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Nazca}}

{{coord|14|49|44|S|74|56|37|W|region:PE_type:city(23000)|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Peru]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Department of Ica]]
[[Category:Localities irrigated by puquios]]
[[Category:Nazca culture]]