A cenote is a reservoir of spring water.
Cenote is a term that has its origin in the Mayan word tz»onot and means well or abyss . A cenote is a reservoir of spring water with a certain depth.
Cenotes arose in caverns after the roof collapses of one or more caves. With the accumulation of groundwater, ponds were formed that can be more or less deep. Cenotes can be underground , semi-open or open , characteristics that are related to the age of the structure (the youngest ones maintain their dome, while the oldest ones are already open).
The Mayan cenotes
For the Mayans , cenotes were sacred places . There they used to perform sacrifices and rituals that were part of their cosmology. It is still not known precisely, however, how the ceremonies were carried out in the cenotes.
The Sacred Cenote of Chichén Itzá , with about 60 meters in diameter and vertical walls of about 15 meters, is one of the most famous cenotes. It is located north of the Kukulcán pyramid and has become a great tourist attraction.
It is possible to find many other cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula ( Mexico ). Experts have managed to verify that many of the cenotes are interconnected and have access to the sea , which allows us to affirm that there is an important underground system.
In some cases, cenotes have a wide diversity of flora and fauna, even housing endangered species. Other cenotes, on the other hand, are almost lifeless due to the high level of pollution .
The Mayans considered cenotes to be sacred.
Some examples
Pit Neversink (Alabama, United States)
This limestone sinkhole is among the most photographed on the planet, given the beauty of its fern cornices and water currents. Regarding its proportions, the hole has a width of 12 meters at the highest part, and increases until it reaches 30 meters when reaching the deepest part, 50 meters from the ground. Some of the living beings that inhabit this impressive cenote are bats and various rare species of ferns that are in danger of extinction .
Big Hole (Kimberley, South Africa)
The literal translation of the name of this 17-hectare cenote (463 meters wide by 1.1 kilometer deep) is "big hole" and, given its dimensions, it is not difficult to understand the choice of the title. Its origin took place when a diamond mine collapsed and it is the largest hand-dug pit on the planet. Currently, it is full of water and has the appearance of a lake. Since the farm was closed in 1914, it has been visited by crowds of people from various countries every year.
Zacatón (Aldana, Mexico)
Belonging to the Zacatón system , a group in the municipality of Aldama with karst characteristics, this cenote is full of thermal water and is 339 meters deep. It is worth mentioning that, among the five cenotes found in Rancho La Azufrosa, Zacatón is the only one in which a water flow cannot be seen. Regarding its name, it derives from the floating formations of grass (grass) that move across the surface thanks to the wind.
Red Lake (Imotski, Croatia)
The Red Lake cenote is located in the city of Imotski and, as its name indicates, it is a lake ("red"). Some of its main features are its high cliffs , which can exceed 241 meters above sea level and continue into the depths, and its many caves. It has been determined that its volume is no less than 30 million cubic meters, which makes it the third largest chasm on the planet. A series of underground rivers help drain water outside the cave .