Agricultural terraces are characteristic primarily for the landscape of eastern Asia, an area famous for growing various kinds of rice, but they also occur on the slopes of the Andes. They are built to make the cultivated area on gentle slopes of the hills bigger. At the edge of the terrace a small earth or stone embankment is built up, preventing water from falling down the slope, as it could destroy the terrace structure. In addition, the retention of water is necessary for the proper growth of plants. The terraces, which are huge, are built by hand with a use of a hoe, applying traditional methods known for hundreds of years.
