Show floating islands made on plaited stick rafts most of us are familiar with that phenomenon the hanging gardens of babylon less famous but still spectacular are the floating gar dens of mexico city according to an article in horti hort culture a tribe of indians attempted to establish themselves on land al read reads occupied this happened many decades before the spaniards came to mexico the ancient band unable to settle among the un friendly natives decided to make their home on a neighboring island to accommodate their growing people they constructed other is lands that floated about on the lake the floating islands were made on plaited rafts of sticks and vines the interlacing twigs formed a mat which they covered with a layer of earth thus their home became a green growing craft which could be moved about at will with the aid of 0 f poles the new settlers planted their trees and crops and built up a civi libation liza tion of their own As time passed the tree roots on the moving islands stretched down and anchored themselves the islands are stationary they are alive with colorful flowers and green plantings tall trees make a striking silhouette against the sky mexicans row to the islands to gath er brilliant blossoms later to sell them to inland visitors although the islands are fixed they are known by the title of chinampas Chinam pas or float ing islands |