<P> The city was connected to the mainland by causeways leading to the north, south, and west . The causeways were interrupted by bridges that allowed canoes and other water traffic to pass freely . The bridges could be pulled away, if necessary, to defend the city . The city was interlaced with a series of canals, so that all sections of the city could be visited either on foot or via canoe . </P> <P> Lake Texcoco was the largest of five interconnected lakes . Since it formed in an endorheic basin, Lake Texcoco was brackish . During the reign of Moctezuma I, the "levee of Nezahualcoyotl" was constructed, reputedly designed by Nezahualcoyotl . Estimated to be 12 to 16 km (7.5 to 9.9 mi) in length, the levee was completed circa 1453 . The levee kept fresh spring - fed water in the waters around Tenochtitlan and kept the brackish waters beyond the dike, to the east . </P> <P> Two double aqueducts, each more than 4 km (2.5 mi) long and made of terracotta, provided the city with fresh water from the springs at Chapultepec . This was intended mainly for cleaning and washing . For drinking, water from mountain springs was preferred . Most of the population liked to bathe twice a day; Moctezuma was said to take four baths a day . According to the context of Aztec culture in literature, the soap that they most likely used was the root of a plant called copalxocotl (Saponaria americana), and to clean their clothes they used the root of metl (Agave americana). Also, the upper classes and pregnant women washed themselves in a temazcalli, similar to a sauna bath, which is still used in the south of Mexico . This was also popular in other Mesoamerican cultures . </P> <P> When we saw so many cities and villages built in the water and other great towns on dry land we were amazed and said that it was like the enchantments (...) on account of the great towers and cues and buildings rising from the water, and all built of masonry . And some of our soldiers even asked whether the things that we saw were not a dream? (...) I do not know how to describe it, seeing things as we did that had never been heard of or seen before, not even dreamed about . </P>

7. describe the transportation of ciudad de méxico of the past—tenochtitlan