How cenotes form

Dip your toe into a world where geology and ancient history go hand in hand

“The water wears the limestone away to create great cavernous chambers” Found on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, a cenote (pronounced ‘say-no-tay’) is effectively a really pretty sinkhole. These colossal underground caverns are filled with deep, crystal-clear water and are used as both swimming and diving spots for tourists and scuba enthusiasts, not to mention being sites of incredible archaeological and cultural significance for the Yucatán’s locals. The Yucatán peninsula is formed of limestone and was once a coral reef, exposed just above sea level during the last ice age. The peninsula doesn’t have many rivers or steams above ground, but below the surface flow the three longest underground water systems in the world. These essential waters have helped civilisation thrive on the Yucatán for thousands of years. Fractures in the limestone bedrock form the…

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How It Works Book of Incredible Earth (Digital) - 1 Issue, How It Works Book Of Incredible Earth 6th Edition

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