The center of Aztec culture was the city of Tenochtitlan, which was located on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec Empire and was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas. The city was founded in 1325 and reached its peak population of around 200,000 people in the early 16th century. Tenochtitlan was a highly advanced city with a complex system of canals, bridges, and aqueducts. The city was also home to many temples, palaces, and other important buildings. Tenochtitlan was destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors in 1521, but its ruins can still be seen today in Mexico City.