A geoglyph is a drawing on the ground, or a large motif, (generally greater than 4 metres) or design produced on the ground, either by arranging clasts (stones, stone fragments, gravel or earth) to create a positive geoglyph (stone arrangement/alignment, petroform, earth mound) or by removing patinated clasts to expose unpatinated ground (negative geoglyph). In literature, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance. ... In geology, the term clastic refers to sediments formed from fragments of pre-existing rock. ... The Statue of Liberty gets its green color from the patina formed on its copper surface Patinas are chemical compounds formed on the surface of metals. ...

Some of the most famous negative geoglyphs are the Nazca Lines in Peru. Other areas with geoglyphs include Western Australia. Hill figures, turf mazes and the stone-lined labyrinths of Scandinavia, Iceland, Lappland and the former Soviet Union are types of geoglyph. The largest geoglyph is the Marree Man in South Australia [1] [2]. Satellite picture of an area containing lines. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... A hill figure is a large visual representation created by cutting into a steep hillside and revealing the underlying geology. ... Walking the turf maze at Wing, Rutland Historically, a turf maze is a labyrinth made by cutting a convoluted path into a level area of short grass, turf or lawn. ... This article is about the mazelike labyrinth. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Lappland is the name of a geographical region in Sweden and Finland which can refer to: Laponia, or Lappland - a historical Province of Sweden and Finland Lapland, or Lappi/Lappland - a current Province and Region of Finland Part of Norrbotten County or Norrbottens län - a current County of Sweden Part... Categories: Australia geography stubs | Geoglyphs ...

See Also: Intaglio (burial mound) and Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin Intaglio is a term from art applied to burial mounds which refers to a design cut into a hard surface. ... Fort Atkinson is a city located in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. ...

Modern examples

Not all geoglyphs are ancient. The Land Art movement created many new geoglyphs as well as other structures: perhaps the most famous example is Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson. Land art or earth art is a form of art which came to prominence in the late 1960s and 1970s primarily concerned with the natural environment. ... Spiral Jetty, as seen from Rozel Point Spiral Jetty, considered to be the masterpiece of American sculptor Robert Smithson, is the name of an earthwork sculpture built in 1970. ... Smithsons Spiral Jetty set in Great Salt Lake, Utah. ...

Turf mazes and labyrinths are still being made by gardeners and landscape architects.

Contemporary Australian sculptor Andrew Rogers has created geoglyphs around the world; three good examples are: A sculpture is a three-dimensional, man-made object selected for special recognition as art. ...

1 "The Ancients" This geoglyph is derived from a 6000 year old "pictureglyph" known as "El Señor de los Báculos" located in the Rio Loa area near Calama, Chile. The geoglyph is located at an altitude of 2469 m (8100 ft) above sea level, on the Llano de la Paciencia (Plain of Patience), 13 km from the town of San Pedro de Atacama.

The stone walls forming this geoglyph, constructed from volcanic rock and clay, are 1200 m (3936 ft) in length.

This image forms part of the pastoral cosmology. The sun cuts across this "pictureglyph" at the solstice.

2 "The Rhythms of Life" This geoglyph is located at 2603 m (8500 ft) on the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains), which rise from the Llano de la Paciencia, and form the head of the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), a geological formation of lunar appearance, approximately 14 km from the town of San Pedro de Atacama.

3 "Ancient Language" This geoglyph is about 80 m long by 2.8 m high, and is inspired by a 4800 year old petroglyph iconography, carved into stone in the surrounding area, Yerbas Buenas, 20 km from the Rio Grande.

Calama is a city in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. ... San Pedro de Atacama is a pre-Inca town in northern Chile, and a popular tourist destination. ... Titians The Pastoral Concert Pastoral refers to the lifestyle of shepherds. ... Cosmology, from the Greek: κοσμολογία (cosmologia, κόσμος (cosmos) world + λογια (logia) discourse) is the study of the universe in its totality and by extension mans place in it. ... Diagram of the Earths seasons Solstice is an astronomical term regarding the position of the Sun in relation to the earths equator. ... Iconography is the study and interpretation of images in art. ... The Rio Grande flowing in Big Bend National Park Known as the Rio Grande in the United States and as the Río Bravo (or, more formally, the Río Bravo del Norte) in Mexico, the river, 3034 km long, rises in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, USA, flows...

External links

• The Blythe Intaglios, A Photo Gallery by James Q. Jacobs

• Jerusalem Post article on sculptor Andrew Rogers

• Photogrammetric Reconstruction of the Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa