Yucatán Cenotes: Sacred Underground Freshwater Reserves [1]
One of the greatest mysteries of Mexico pertains to the existence of freshwater reserves in the Yucatán Peninsula despite its lack of rivers. In the Yucatán Peninsula, deep underground reserves or sinkholes of freshwater called cenotes can be seen and explored. The term cenote comes from the Mayan word dzonot which specifies a region with available groundwater. These Yucatán cenotes [2] are found underground as rainwater infiltrates through the soil to sub-surface regions of limestone bedrock. Cenotes, for the Mexican people, are more than a mere naturalistic phenomenon. Cenotes for the Mayans inhabiting the Yucatán Peninsula region are considered sanctified occurrences, proving the existence and caring nature of the gods.
These underground reserves of freshwater in some cases begin to resemble intricate underground or semi-sunken caves. They’re often times the location of many ancient carvings, precious stones, and mystical stone formations resembling animals revered as sacred to the Mayans of the Yucatán Peninsula. These magical creations are some of the most unique and supernatural features of the environment Mexico that have developed over millions of years.