Peru just made a U-turn worthy of an ancient geoglyph! 🌀 The government has scrapped controversial plans to shrink the protected zone around the UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines – those mysterious giant desert drawings older than TikTok trends. Archaeologists and locals had warned the move would let agriculture and mining creep into sacred ground.
🔍 Why it matters: These 2,000-year-old etchings (think hummingbirds, monkeys, and geometric shapes) are like Earth’s original AR filter – best seen from above. Critics argued reducing the buffer area risked damage to fragile sites still being studied.
💬 Culture Ministry officials faced major backlash after proposing the changes last month. “This is a victory for global heritage,” said Lima-based historian Dr. Rosa Martinez. “The lines aren’t just Peru’s – they’re humanity’s time capsule.”
🌱 What’s next? Officials say they’ll seek “balanced solutions” for development while protecting the desert canvas. Meanwhile, travel influencers are already planning new aerial photo ops ✈️📸.
