Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • Australia
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. Australia
  3. 2022
  4. June 24
  5. Underwater cenotes, Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Underwater cenotes, Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

June 24, 2022

Underwater cenotes, Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

© Extreme Photographer/Getty Image

Cenotes, Mexico

Like a giant block of Swiss cheese, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is permeated with holes called cenotes. Cenotes form when subterranean limestone dissolves, allowing underground water to get through. The rock above may collapse, forming a pit and revealing the cool, often crystal-clear water, while other cenotes may remain hidden and unexplored. Cenotes vary in size from very small to several dozen metres across, and recent discoveries have shown that cenotes lead to a series of underground cave systems that can span several kilometres in length.

In a region with little rainfall and no rivers or streams, the Yucatan’s 6,000 cenotes were vital to the many cities of the Mayan civilization that used them as a primary source of fresh water. While some of the peninsula’s cenotes have a mix of salt water and fresh water, many of the holes have remarkably clean fresh water that has slowly filtered through rock. The light that reaches into the underground chambers creates a magical effect. It makes for fantastic swimming and diving opportunities. Many of the larger cenotes feature platforms and ropes to jump off, and they are often located near historically significant Mayan ruins.

waterfall nature reef water cave swimming surrounded

Related Images

Wai'anapanapa State Park black sand beach, Maui, Hawaii, USAWai'anapanapa State Park black sand beach, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USAColumbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA
Steyr river, AustriaSteyr river, Austria
Gorges du Fier, Haute-Savoie, FranceGorges du Fier, Haute-Savoie, France
Rainbow over Waimea Canyon and Waipo'o Falls, Kauai, Hawaii, USARainbow over Waimea Canyon and Waipo'o Falls, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Croesor Valley, Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UKCroesor Valley, Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UK
Itaimbezinho canyonItaimbezinho canyon
'Firefall' on Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California, USA'Firefall' on Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Today on Bing

Barren-ground caribou in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA

Barren-ground caribou in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA

Jun 24, 2021
Pont Fawr, a stone arch bridge in Llanrwst, Wales, UK

Pont Fawr, a stone arch bridge in Llanrwst, Wales, UK

Jun 24, 2020
Fireflies surround a sea almond tree in Camarines Sur, Luzon, Philippines

Fireflies surround a sea almond tree in Camarines Sur, Luzon, Philippines

Jun 24, 2019
Ship tracks over the Pacific Ocean made visible by the clouds that form around the particles in a ship’s exhaust

Ship tracks over the Pacific Ocean made visible by the clouds that form around the particles in a ship’s exhaust

Jun 24, 2018
Rotonda di San Lorenzo in Mantua, Italy

Rotonda di San Lorenzo in Mantua, Italy

Jun 24, 2017

Related Tags

nature outdoor waterfall landscape water tree plant forest rock hillside surrounded mountain cloud river canyon sky sunrise sunset stream lake
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 4K Ultra HD
Download 4000x2250
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.