For thousands of years, when farmers in mountainous regions have expanded their farms to grow crops on the steep slopes, they have carved massive steps into the terrain, forming terraces of many small platforms. Following the contours of the mountains, the edges of the terraces create sinuous patterns in the landscape, presenting picturesque images. Gathered here are photos from China, Switzerland, Vietnam, Peru, the Philippines, and Japan.
The Beauty of Terraced Fields
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Rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province, Vietnam, on September 27, 2015. On the mountains between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above the sea level, ethnic Hmong farmers have been growing rice on the terraced fields for hundreds of years. #
Hau Dinh / AP -
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Photo taken on March 6, 2014, shows the scenery of terraced fields in Yuanyang County, China. UNESCO's World Heritage Committee added China's Honghe Hani Rice Terraces to its World Heritage List on June 22, 2013. #
Yang Zongyou / Xinhua Press / Corbis -
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