Book 20, Question 43
How Can People Farm on Steep Mountain Slopes?
People farm on steep mountain slopes by cutting flat steps called terraces into the hillside! Each step holds soil and water in place. That lets crops grow on land that would otherwise be too steep.
More fun facts
- People carve flat steps called terraces into steep slopes.
- The Inca built terraces up the mountainsides from the valleys.
- Terraces give flat ground for crops and help hold soil and water.
- Many old terraces in Peru were abandoned after the Spanish arrived.
- Today, people near Cuzco are rebuilding terraces and old water channels.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, NASA
Questions kids ask
What is a terrace?
A terrace is a flat step carved into a steep slope that gives flat ground for crops and holds soil and water.