A cenote is formed when the roof of an underground limestone cavern collapses. Most early Maya towns and ceremonial centers developed around these sinkholes because they provided a good water supply. This particular cenote is the main cenote at Chichén Itzá and is also called the Sacred Cenote and the Cenote of Sacrifice because, you guessed it!, people were sacrificed here and objects were thrown into the water. It is about 60 meters (195 feet) across and 18 meters (60 feet) down to the water.
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Photographs ©1996 by Linda Freeman and
Ken Goehring.