NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES

NZ Lands and Survey Rangers' Archive

Pelicans roost on an island in Paracas: Peru

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Date1977-1980DescriptionFrom Harold Jacobs:
Paracas National Reserve (335,000 hectares) is a 3 hour drive south from Lima and included 217,50,4 hectares of sea and seabed. An area of outstanding coastal and desert scenery where within half a day's drive one can see flamingos, condors, sealions and visit ancient archaeological sites of cultures dating back 4,000yrs. More recent history is recorded in the form of a fine monument that commemorates the landing, in 1821, of General San Martin who was involved in the liberation of Peru from Spanish domination.

The "Candelabra”, an ancient 183 metre high candlestick etched into the earth, points towards the famous Nazca lines and was being threatened by all types of crosscountry vehicles. Those trail bikes, dune buggies and four wheel drive vehicles were one of the greatest threats to the tranquillity and atmosphere of the Reserve. Two Guards and an Administrator shared a motor-cycle as a means of control. The increasing number of visitors found it difficult to drive to the points of interest through the labyrinth of unmarked vehicle tracks formed by fishermen's vehicles on the compressed sand.

Paracas benefits from the nearby offshore dark blue Humboldt current that brings rich nutrients from the southern cold water. It also had an interesting Inca Museum with an appropriate design and setting. There was a skull that showed signs of brain surgery and the surgical instruments used. They displayed Inca woven cloth finer than any cloth woven today. There are Barchan sand dunes marching across the plains - always crescent shaped.
Last edited by: Robin Mossman

PhotographerPat Sheridan

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Pelicans roost on an island in Paracas: Peru

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Pelicans roost on an island in Paracas: Peru