Chinese  
New York Time: Thursday, 10/23/2025    
Home    US    World    China    Arts    Science    Entertainment    Sports    Beyond science
Advanced Hydraulic Engineering Made Desertified Peruvian Valleys Livable 1,500 Years
2018-11-17 21:49:20   (Visits: 1057 Times)
photo1,Ancient Peruvian Nazca people built this spiral well. The spiral wells were built to give easy access to water directed from mountain springs to dry valleys. (Public Domain)
2,One of the several figures depicted in geoglyphs known as the Nazca lines. (Martin St-Amant/CCBY-SA)
3,Nazca irrigation canals. ( CCBY)
By Mark Miller,September 11, 2016 Updated: September 11, 2016
Aqueducts and man-made wells built about 1,500 years ago in Peru by the Nazca people are still in use today and supplying water for daily living and irrigation to people in desert areas near the modern city of Nazca.
The Nazca people had only very narrow, rocky valleys in which to live and grow their crops, so they implemented an advanced hydraulic engineering system that greened their lands and helped them prosper.
They are known as the Aqueducts of Cantalloc or, in Spanish, Cantayo. The accomplishment of creating them was arguably greater than that of creating the Nazca lines that are so famous around the world.
The ancient people made between 30 and 50 underground channels miles long to carry water from rivers upstream, from the valley, and from mountain springs to their crops and cities. They dug the channels and lined them with stones and wood and then reburied them. The hydraulic system includes 17 wells that have paths spiraling into the earth, where the running water can be collected. Researchers think people entered the wells via the spiraling structure to clean or repair the wells, especially after earthquakes.
The Nazca civilization did have some green, arable land available in the narrow valleys where they eked out an existence, but these engineered waterworks allowed them to expand their farming land. Among their crops were potatoes, corn, beans, cotton, and fruits.
The river valleys in the vicinity of Nazca are just as green today as they were about 1,500 years ago when the canals, aqueducts, and wells were constructed, because some of these hydraulic features are still used.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other activists lead
Mystery Unfolds Around Purported ‘Alien Megastructure’ Orbiting Star
Three New York residents charged with identity theft and bank fraud conspiracy
December 2022 FIFA World Cup Argentina Crowned World Champions
Saudi Death Sentences in Khashoggi Killing Fail to Dispel Questions
Bryant explains how Lakers could beat Warriors
Only 25 Congressional Republicans recognize Biden's presidential win, new survey say
Joint Health: How to Tell if Your Supplements Are High Quality
Idris Elba's daughter, Isan, was totally weirded out that he was named 'Sexiest Man A
Hero 6-year-old boy saves little sister from attacking dog: “If someone had to die
Pelosi, Schumer Call for Investigation Into Reduced Sentencing
Key details to know about Jimmy Carter's funeral
Trump U-Turns On Day-Old Promise To Leave White House, Insists Biden ‘Prove’ His Vote
Jamaican broadcaster Gil Bailey had died as a result of the coronavirus in New York
Trump implies he won't leave the White House unless Biden'can prove' he won 80 mil
Meet the youngest US congressional member: GOP’s 25-year-old Madison Cawthorn of Nort
Vladimir Putin's Humiliating Admission: Russian Military Has Been Depleted as Ukraine
Dana White tells Tony Robbins that Ronda Rousey’s shocking knockout loss to Holly Hol
Her father, Tyson Gay, is a five-time USA Track and Field Champion.
Trump says he'll sign China trade deal Jan. 15
Contact       About Us       Legal Disclaimer