The Aztecs fed approximately 200,000 people via farming, even though their 'land' was just a swampy lake. Learn their secrets

The Aztecs were faced with the seemingly impossible task of feeding over 200,000 people when the land around them was just a swampy lake. They ingeniously overcame the problem by building floating gardens, called chinampas, and farming them intensively.

These gardens were built up from the lake bed by piling layers of mud, decaying vegetation and reeds. In this manner the waste from capital city Tenochtitlan was also recycled. Each one of the garden plots was held together by wooden poles which also provided a framework. They were bound by reeds and anchored to the lake floor by finely pruned willow trees.

The chinampas were surrounded by canals. The Aztecs dredged mud from the base of these canals. This kept the waterways clear and restored the nutrient levels in the gardens' soil. Maize, beans, chilies, squash, tomatoes, edible greens and amaranth were grown. Flowers, essential for religious festivals and ceremonies of the Aztec people, were also planted.

Farming families often lived on earthen platforms near the chinampas. Their houses were built from cane, wood, and reeds. Each chinampa could be farmed by an average of 10–15 people, from the same family group, depending on the size of the garden.