Waru Waru

Waru waru, also called camellones, is a system of raised field agriculture developed by pre-Hispanic peoples of the Andes across an area stretching from Ecuador to Bolivia. It combines raised planting mounds with surrounding water filled canals; the canals supply irrigation and nutrient rich sediment while the water they hold also absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, protecting crops on the raised beds from frost. Dating to around 300 BC and most closely associated with the Tiwanaku culture near Lake Titicaca, the technique supported large populations by allowing the cultivation of crops such as potatoes and quinoa at high altitude.