Folklore and tradition are alive and well on the Xochimilco canals (the name translates as "fields of flowers"), despite the town's popularity with tourists (mainly Mexicans). The Aztecs quickly took control of this rural village, which grew crops in floating gardens on Lake Texcoco. Despite the lake drying up, plants continue to be cultivated here and 189km of canals survive, fifteen of which can be explored on a trajinera boat ride. Xochimilco was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.