The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Based on the image provided, here is the answer to the question.
Correct Answer:
The question asks, “¿Para qué construyeron los Nascas red de canales?” which translates to “Why did the Nazca build a network of canals?”
The Nazca built their network of canals, known as puquios, to access and manage water for agriculture and domestic use in the extremely arid desert environment where they lived.
Explanation
The Nazca civilization flourished in the coastal desert valleys of southern Peru, one of the driest regions on the planet. In this harsh environment, surface water was incredibly scarce, with rivers that were often dry for most of the year. To sustain a large population and cultivate the crops necessary for their survival, such as maize, cotton, and beans, the Nazca needed a reliable, year-round water source.
Their solution was a brilliant and sophisticated feat of hydraulic engineering: the puquios. These were not simple surface ditches, but a complex system of underground aqueducts. The Nazca constructed these subterranean channels to tap into deep underground aquifers, which held water that filtered down from the distant Andes Mountains. By building the canals underground, they cleverly minimized water loss from evaporation in the intense desert heat.
The construction of the puquios demonstrates a profound understanding of local geology and hydrology. The canals were dug at a slight, continuous gradient to allow water to flow naturally via gravity from the underground sources to their fields and settlements. To ensure the system could be maintained, the Nazca built vertical access shafts, often in a distinctive spiral shape, called “ojos” (eyes). These shafts allowed for cleaning and repairs, and they also helped to aerate the water flowing through the channels.
In essence, this vast network of canals was the lifeblood of the Nazca society. It transformed an otherwise uninhabitable desert into fertile agricultural land, enabling their culture to thrive for centuries. The puquios stand as a powerful testament to the ingenuity and adaptive capabilities of the Nazca people.
