Monday, August 24, 2009

Zanjas


There is little remaining evidence of the shallow irrigation ditches, or Zanjas, that once carried water to parts of the city center.  A plaque here, a street sign there, a small stretch of channel along Figueroa Boulvard.  

Similar to acequias, these gravity chutes were originally earthen, lined later to improve performance amidst explosive growth.


Between the St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Stimson Mansion on Figueroa Boulevard, a section of Zanja endures (image bottom).  Several brick lined sections of the aqueduct have been uncovered, or re-discovered, in recent years in and around Chinatown, or by MTA construction crews.



Labels:

2 Comments:

Anonymous janepowell said...

Okay, that is unbelievably cool. Had no idea such a thing existed.

10:18 PM  
OpenID qualifiedcondition said...

There is an portion that has been preserved along the Gold Line route adjacent to the Cornfield park--next time you happen upon the Gold Line have your camera handy on the westerly side as you enter the park. The Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park station also has a pretty decent art installation on the topic.

7:10 PM  

Post a Comment

Comments

<< Home