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Xoloitzcuintle
/ Mexican hairless dog
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Xochimilco, the
borough is centered on the formerly independent city of Xochimilco, which was
established on what was the southern shore of Lake
Xochimilco in the pre-Hispanic period. Today, the borough
consists of the eighteen “barrios” or neighborhoods of this city along with
fourteen “pueblos” or villages that surround it, covering an area of
125 km2 (48 sq mi). While the borough is somewhat in the
geographic center of the Federal District, it is considered to be “south” and
has an identity separate from the historic center of Mexico City.
This is due to its historic separation from that city during most of its
history. Xochimilco is best known for its canals, which are left from what was
an extensive lake and canal system that connected most of the settlements of
the Valley of Mexico. These canals, along with
artificial islands called chinampas, attract tourists and other city residents to ride
on colorful gondola-like
boats called “trajineras”
around the 170 km (110 mi) of canals. This canal and chinampa system,
as a vestige of the area’s pre-Hispanic past, has made Xochimilco a World Heritage Site. [Wiki]
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