A Whale of a Picture!

(Click photo to enlarge)

26°50'4.16"N 113° 8'22.52"W

This is a geoglyph of a mother whale and her calf near Laguna San Ignacio, Baja Californa, Mexico. To give you an idea of the immense size of this glyph, note the small town to the left of it. The glyph is over 2000 feet long from head to tail, and about 1200 feet wide. It is probably of recent construction, to publicize a nearby whale-watching sanctuary. Does anyone know anything more about it?

Topoc Maze, near Needles, California

34°42'57.48"N 114°29'51.93"W

Likely created by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, it can be accessed via dirt road off Park Moabi Road near Needles. There is a plaque at the site: "Here, upon this land where you now stand, is the Topock Maze; indeed, a cultural site of much importance to the tribe. To this site the AhaMakav warriors returning home from battle first paused for purification before continuing home.""Not a true maze, this site is a series of windrows carefully placed in an extensive geometric pattern. Today, the site covers about 10 acres. Evidence suggests that it may have originally been only one section in a group of nearby earth images and features. Sadly, important parts of the complex were destroyed by the construction of the highway.

The Blythe Intaglios - A Man and His Mountain Lion

33°48'1.44"N 114°31'53.52"W

About 15 miles north of Blythe, California, near the Colorado River, there are geoglyphs that were discovered by a pilot flying over the area. The largest human figure is 171 feet long. The figures have been fenced off to prevent vehicle and foot damage to the sites. The site is believed to be 450 to 2,000 years old. According to the Mojave and Quechan Indians, the human figures represent Mastamho, the creator of all life. The animal figures represent Hatakulya, a mountain lion who helped in the creation of the world. Read more here.