Cenotes, Hidden Gemstones of the Yucatán
By Kelly Ryoo
Cenotes are deep-water wells resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. Simply put, they are underwater sinkholes. Cenotes are especially common in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, which I visited in the winter of 2019. As a part of a cenotes tour, I had the opportunity to visit three different cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula.
We began our journey at Lu’um, a cavern cenote located in the Northern region of Quintana Roo. Lu’um, like all cenotes, contains a large body of groundwater, but it was also covered by a dome-like ceiling. The only entrance to the cenote was through a hole in the dome, located eighty-two feet above the water. We put our life jackets on and strapped ourselves into the safety gear to rappel through the opening. As I was lowered into the waters, I gasped, caught off-guard by the icy cold water. What was even more surprising was the color of the water; the deep blue pool resembled a huge sapphire. Looking up, I noticed small cracks and holes in the ceiling where sunlight peeked through, illuminating parts of the water into an even brighter blue.
Our next stop was Ha’, a semi-open cenote. I gently waded through the clear blue waters, creating ripples that nudged away the nearby water lilies. I squinted my eyes as the sky cleared, the aquamarine hue of the water brightly glowing under the sunlight. Lush greenery filled the landscape and tree roots draped the surrounding rock walls. I submerged my face underwater and opened my eyes, letting out bubbles of surprise as silvery fish about the size of my pinky finger wriggled past me.
I learned that Ha’ had once been covered by a cavern ceiling (just like Lu’um). As time passed, the cavern structure fell apart and collapsed to create a large opening, resulting in the semi-open cenote.
Our final stop was at Iik, the oldest of the three cenotes. The cavern ceiling of Iik had completely collapsed, leaving behind a pool of water that resembled a lake. Reeds and lily pads floated on the emerald green waters, and the rich green vegetation of the Mexican jungle lined the rim of the cenote.
From the tall cavernous ceilings to the sapphire blue waters, the cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula are some of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. They teem with all kinds of wildlife — schools of fish, tropical flowers, trees, and plants — and their beautiful, clear waters are like gemstones buried into the Earth. Truly, they are wondrous phenomena of nature.
About the Author: Kelly Ryoo is a sophomore from Cupertino majoring in Computer Science. One of her favorite travel destinations is Rome because of its rich history and delicious pizzas.
