Farming Islands of the Aztecs

A chinampa is a rectangular farm plot built on shallow lake beds in the Valley of Mexico. Artificial islands.

Farmers wove reeds around stakes to form underwater fences. Mud fencing, the original gated community.

The Nahua settlement of Culhuacan constructed the first chinampas in 1100 CE. Farming as imperial policy.

Willow and cypress trees were planted at corners to hold structures together. Ditches between beds kept plants continuously watered.

Crops included maize, beans, squash, tomatoes, chili peppers, and flowers. Gardening, but with more empire.

Nahuatl wills measured plots in matl, where one matl equaled 1.67 meters. Fields listed in groups of 7.

These artificial islands never actually floated.

The United Nations designated the system a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2018. Some fields now grow cattle feed.