The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe)

are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugaoin the Philippines by the
ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are occasionally called the "Eighth
Wonder of the World".[1][2][3] It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal
equipment, largely by hand.[citation needed] The terraces are located approximately 1,500 metres
(4,900 feet) above sea level. These are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the
rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps were put end to end, it
would encircle half of the globe.[4]
Locals up to this day still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces, although more and more
younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing[citation needed], often opting for the more lucrative
hospitality industry generated by the terraces.[5] The result is the gradual erosion of the
characteristic "steps", which require constant reconstruction and care. In 2010, a further
problem encountered was drought, with the terraces drying up completely in March of that
year.[6]
The age of the terraces are believed by many to be over a 2,000 years old as postulated by
anthropologist Otley Beyer. Several researchers however dispute this and contend that the
terraces were built much later.[7][8]