Edzna Ruins
Edzná is a Mayan archaeological site, located in the Mexican state of Campeche, in the Edzná Valley. It is one of the most interesting Mayan cities, due to the technological advances discovered in it.
Due to the type of soil, the valley in which it is found floods in the rainy season and maintains high humidity almost all year round. To remedy this problem, the Mayans developed an advanced system of hydraulic works: a network of canals drained the valley and the water was led to a lagoon, which was transformed into a dam, by means of retaining walls, while other canals served to irrigate the fields. This provided an optimal degree of humidity in the land, for intensive cultivation, while the canals provided abundant fishing, in addition to being used as communication routes and, in some cases, they served as defense. Its squares had a magnificent drainage system and the rainwater reached artificial reservoirs, called chultunes.
Edzná had numerous religious, administrative and residential buildings, distributed over an area of approximately 25 square kilometers. Its architecture is influenced by the Puuc, Petén and Chenes styles.