Going underground

This week's field trip was to a former hemp/sisal hacienda that reinvented itself to take advantage of the natural phenomena known in Spanish as "cenotes" which is translated as "sinkholes" but can be best be described as entrances to the underground rivers that criss-cross the entire Yucatecan peninsula. The closer to the coast, the closer to the surface are the entrances to the cenotes. Conversely, the farther inland, the deeper the entrance. This site, Cuzamá, is located in about the center of the peninsula.

When hemp was in full production (1880 - 1950), the harvested leaves were transported to the processing plant via mule or horse drawn carts on this narrow-gauge track pictured above. (We will be visiting one of the few still functioning hemp haciendas later in the semester. I will provide a more detailed explanation of the hacienda system and the production process then.) Today, these same carts (and what appear to be the same horses!) transport tourists to three cenotes that are located along a path that takes about 40 minutes to travel. We spent about 45 minutes at each cenote.

The first cenote is accessed via this ladder and is completely enclosed. I know my faithful readers will find it hard to believe, but I did not make the trip down the ladder. Here is Kyle on his way down. When I get photos from inside the cave from students, I will post them.

This photo of the group in the first cenote is taken from a small opening on firm land and with my camera set at its maximum distance range.

Here is Isaac climbing vines found in the second cenote.

This is a shot of the third cenote which is much more accessible, and as such, according to my young, healthy, and daring students, much less exciting and challenging, but this cenote was longer and wider than the other two.