The Paracas Peninsula is a desert peninsula within the boundaries of the Paracas National Reserve, a marine reserve that extends south along the coast of Peru. The only marine reserve in the country, it is a designated

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

. This is to mark and preserve the archeological sites of the

Paracas culture The Paracas culture was an Andean society existing between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE, with an extensive knowledge of irrigation and water management and that made significant contributions in the textile arts. It was located in what tod ...

, in addition to the marine habitat. The peninsula is located within the

Paracas District Paracas District is one of eight districts of the province Pisco in Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_sym ...

Pisco Province Pisco is a province of the Ica Region in Peru. Its capital is the town of Pisco, where the popular liquor of the same name originated. Geography Boundaries * North: Chincha Province, Castrovirreyna Province ( Huancavelica Region) * East: Hu ...

in the

Ica Region Ica (; qu, Ika) is a department and region of Peru. It borders the Pacific Ocean on the west; the Lima Region on the north; the Huancavelica and Ayacucho regions on the east; and the Arequipa Region on the south. Its capital is the city of Ic ...

, on the south coast of

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. This unusual peninsula may be best known for the

Paracas Candelabra The Paracas Candelabra, also called the Candelabra of the Andes, is a well-known prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the Paracas Peninsula at Pisco Bay in Peru. Pottery found nearby has been radio carbon dated to 200 BCE, the ...

, a prehistoric

geoglyph A geoglyph is a large design or motif (generally longer than 4 metres) produced on the ground by durable elements of the landscape, such as stones, stone fragments, gravel, or earth. A positive geoglyph is formed by the arrangement and alignmen ...

nearly tall that was created on the north face of the peninsula ridge. Pottery nearby was dated to 200 BCE, placing it within the

.Joseph, Frank; "The Candelabra of the Andes"
''The Ancient American'', 2:10, no. 10, 1995, reproduced at ''Science Frontiers'' ONLINE, No. 102: Nov-Dec 1995), accessed 3 Nov 2010 Its origins and purpose have inspired many theories. A shipping port was built along the northern peninsula, where deeper water permits larger transport and cruise ships to anchor. Tourists can have access to the Paracas National Reserve, a large marine reserve, while the ships are protected against ocean waves and currents. The peninsula includes red sand beaches formed from sands eroded from nearby cliffs. The port is reached by a single road from the mainland, and passes through the Paracas National Reserve. The Centre Museum, also called the Paracas Museum, holds several ancient artifacts from the

. It also provides detailed information and interpretation about the flora and fauna native to the Reservation, including the many varieties of birds of Paracas.

References

External links

Visita e imágenes de la península de Paracas y las islas Ballestas ESP
Peninsulas of Peru Landforms of Ica Region {{Ica-geo-stub