Subak: The Ancient Secret Behind Bali's Postcard-Worthy Rice Fields

This water management system is what's keeping Bali's rice fields alive.

Anyone who has been to Bali may already be familiar with the beautiful rice terraces

Beyond the stunning panorama, however, these terraces are actually part of an agricultural system called subak that helps maintain the growth of these very fields.

Recognized by Unesco as one of its World Heritages, subak is a Balinese traditional agricultural system that is believed to have existed before the 11th century, according to an ancient epigraph called Prasasti Raja Purana Klungkung. That makes it earlier than the construction of the majestic Pura Besakih, the largest temple in Bali, which was established in 1284.