<P> The canals of Lake Xochimilco were initially created along with artificial agricultural plots called chinampas . Chinampas were invented by the pre-Hispanic peoples of the region around 1,000 year ago as a way to increase agricultural production . On the shallow waters of the lakes , rafts were constructed of juniper branches . Onto these rafts floating on the water , lakebed mud and soil were heaped and crops planted . These rafts , tied to juniper trees , would eventually sink and a new one be built to replace it . Over time , these sunken rafts would form square or rectangular islands , held in place in part by the juniper trees . As these chinampa islands propagated , areas of the lake were reduced to canals . These `` floating gardens '' were an important part of the economy of the Aztec Empire by the time the Spanish arrived . Today , only about 5,000 chinampas , all affixed to the lake bottom , still exist in their original form , surrounded by canals and used for agriculture . The rest have become solid ground and urbanized . In the center of Xochimilco , there are about 200 chinampas , covering an area of 1,800 hectares . However , one reason the number has decreased is that smaller chinampas have been combined to create larger ones . While there are still those who maintain chinampas traditionally , and use them for agriculture , the chinampa culture is fading in the borough with many being urbanized , and being turned into soccer fields , and sites for housing and businesses . The deterioration of many of these chinampas can be seen as their edges erode into the dark , polluted water of the canals . The most deteriorated chinampas are located in the communities of Santa María Nativitas , Santa Cruz Acalpixca , San Gregoria Atlapulco and Ejido de Xochimilco . Together , these have a total of thirty eight illegal settlements . To repair a number of chinampas , the borough along with federal authorities , has reinforced forty two km of shoreline , of the 360 km ( 220 mi ) that exist in the lake area . This involves the planting of juniper trees and the sinking of tezontle pylons into the lakebed . These remaining chinampas are part of the Xochimilco World Heritage Site . Have since changed use and become residences and businesses . Those that remain agricultural are mostly used as nurseries , growing ornamental plants such as bougainvilleas , cactuses , dahlias , day lilies , and even bonsai . As they can produce up to eight times the amount of conventional land , they are still an important part of the borough 's agricultural production . There have been various attempts to save the remaining chinampas , including their cataloguing by UNESCO , UAM and INAH in 2005 , and various reforestation efforts , especially of juniper trees . </P>
<P> The canals of Lake Xochimilco were initially created along with artificial agricultural plots called chinampas . Chinampas were invented by the pre-Hispanic peoples of the region around 1,000 year ago as a way to increase agricultural production . On the shallow waters of the lakes , rafts were constructed of juniper branches . Onto these rafts floating on the water , lakebed mud and soil were heaped and crops planted . These rafts , tied to juniper trees , would eventually sink and a new one be built to replace it . Over time , these sunken rafts would form square or rectangular islands , held in place in part by the juniper trees . As these chinampa islands propagated , areas of the lake were reduced to canals . These `` floating gardens '' were an important part of the economy of the Aztec Empire by the time the Spanish arrived . Today , only about 5,000 chinampas , all affixed to the lake bottom , still exist in their original form , surrounded by canals and used for agriculture . The rest have become solid ground and urbanized . In the center of Xochimilco , there are about 200 chinampas , covering an area of 1,800 hectares . However , one reason the number has decreased is that smaller chinampas have been combined to create larger ones . While there are still those who maintain chinampas traditionally , and use them for agriculture , the chinampa culture is fading in the borough with many being urbanized , and being turned into soccer fields , and sites for housing and businesses . The deterioration of many of these chinampas can be seen as their edges erode into the dark , polluted water of the canals . The most deteriorated chinampas are located in the communities of Santa María Nativitas , Santa Cruz Acalpixca , San Gregoria Atlapulco and Ejido de Xochimilco . Together , these have a total of thirty eight illegal settlements . To repair a number of chinampas , the borough along with federal authorities , has reinforced forty two km of shoreline , of the 360 km ( 220 mi ) that exist in the lake area . This involves the planting of juniper trees and the sinking of tezontle pylons into the lakebed . These remaining chinampas are part of the Xochimilco World Heritage Site . Have since changed use and become residences and businesses . Those that remain agricultural are mostly used as nurseries , growing ornamental plants such as bougainvilleas , cactuses , dahlias , day lilies , and even bonsai . As they can produce up to eight times the amount of conventional land , they are still an important part of the borough 's agricultural production . There have been various attempts to save the remaining chinampas , including their cataloguing by UNESCO , UAM and INAH in 2005 , and various reforestation efforts , especially of juniper trees . </P>
where are the floating gardens of mexico city located
where are the floating gardens of mexico city located
Lake Xochimilco
Lake Xochimilco