Aztec chinampas

Aztec chinampas are a highly efficient form of ancient agricultural urban expansion, often called "floating gardens." They involved creating small, rectangular islands by building up layers of soil, mud, and vegetation atop shallow lake beds and marshes in the Valley of Mexico. These man-made islets provided fertile land for farming, allowing the Aztecs to grow crops like maize, beans, and squash close to Tenochtitlán, their capital. Chinampas offered excellent drainage and consistent water supply, boosting productivity. This innovative technique maximized urban land use and supported the Aztec population's food needs in a constrained environment.