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For the ancient Mayan of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, finding natural wells for fresh drinking water was difficult. Fortunately, they discovered unique sources of fresh water called cenotes (“dzonot” or “ts’onot” in Mayan, meaning “cavity containing life-giving water”), which they believed were sacred wells or gifts from the gods.

Today it’s understood that cenotes evolved from forces of nature. Rainwater would filter through permeable limestone bedrock forming ponds and rivers below ground. The underground roofs eventually collapsed from erosion, exposing beautiful pools of clear, fresh water. The normally aquamarine colored water reaches typical depths of 16 to 20 feet (5 to 15 meters) and is a pleasant 77° Fahrenheit (25° Celsius), ideal for swimming, snorkeling, diving, or just sightseeing. Cenotes, natural wells, or sinkholes are extraordinary natural wonders which have become popular tourist attractions. Although many remain unexplored, it is estimated that there are as many as 30,000 cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, a region that includes the Mexican states of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo (home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya). Research shows that while many cenotes formed during the Ice Age when extreme changes in ocean levels contributed to the formation of caves and caverns, others may have been created by the Chicxulub meteorite impact in the Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago − the same meteorite responsible for causing the extinction of dinosaurs. Once part of this network of underground rivers and caves, cenotes contain fascinating formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, with crystal clear blue water. Four different types of cenotes exist, ones that are: completely below ground, partially below ground, at ground level, or open but below ground level. No matter what type of cenote it is, each one is distinctively captivating. Read more...http://www.royalsunset.com