The Banaue Rice Terraces are considered as one of the Philippines famous tourist attraction. The indigenous people of Ifugao carved these mountains and formed it into somewhat like giant stair ways to give way for rice farming way back 2000 years ago.
Historically, it was being thought that this magnificent work was done using only minimal equipment and bare hands. It is further said that the steps of the terraces will encircle half the globe if in case it will be connected end to end.
The terraces are located in about 4000 square miles of mountainside or about 10,360 square kilometers. The terraces are watered by ancient irrigation system that comes from the rain forest located above the terraces.
The Banaue rice terraces like other terraces are still parts of the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras that formed the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao. These terraces are considered to be as one of the Unesco World heritage Site.
Local residents of Benguet are still planting different crops usually rice in these terraces.
As far as history is concern. There is no data that was recorded prior to the construction of the Terraces. The only historical study is the evidence that link these terraces to the Miao tribe of China.
According to the story, the concept of the construction of the rice terraces came from the Miao tribe. This tribe was accordingly siege by a Chinese Emperor Yu the great because of the rebellion happened about 2205 to 2106 B.C. Because of the siege, the remaining members of the tribe fled to the south and some of them crossed the South China Sea and accordingly could have been reached the Cordillera region.
Today, the rice terraces are considered as one of the prominent tourist attraction in the Philippines. Local and Foreign tourist in the terraces could enjoy sight seeing with the beautiful scenery that the terraces offered.
In 1995. The Banaue Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras was confirmed by the UNESCO World heritage center as one of the world’s heritage site. The terraces were also included in the List of the World’s Heritage in Danger on 2001. This is due to the deforestation as well as climate change and other factors that threaten to destroy the terraces.
For many centuries, these rice terraces provide benefits to the local residents of the Cordillera region as well as on the entire country not only for economical reasons but for cultural as well.
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