Mexico Cenote Ik Kil is a cenote located outside of Pisté in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán. A part of the Ik Kil Archaeological Park near Chichen Itza, it is located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula. The public is welcome to swim there. Sinkholes can be formed as a result of this process, which is locally referred to as cenotes, derived from the Mayan language ‘tz’onot’.
The Yucatan Peninsula contains more than 2000 cenotes. With crystal clear waters and cascading vines, it is easy to see why Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most popular cenotes! Swim in Cenote Ik Kil if you want to see some beautiful scenery while having a lot of fun. The cenote, which is open to the sky, has a drop of 26 meters in water level.
Swimmers can access a swimming platform through a carved stairway. In diameter and depth, the cenote measures approximately 60 meters. Rainwater filters slowly through the ground to form cenote water, so it contains very little suspended particulate matter, making it very clear. Flow rates of groundwater within cenotes may be very slow.
Despite being fed by underground rivers, their temperatures remain cold since they have little to no contact with solar energy, so they do not warm up. In about 30 meters of water, there is a thick layer of hydrogen sulfide. There is a strong rotten egg smell emanating from the gas, so strong that it can even be detected underwater.
On the highway to Valladolid, Cenote Ik Kil is located near Chichen Itza’s ruins. During the Mayan period, Ik Kil served as a sacrifice site for the rain god, Chaac, to whom human sacrifices were made. Speleologists and archaeologists have discovered bones and jewelry in the deep waters of this cenote. A nearby Cenote Sagrado has been discovered to have been used for human sacrifices, and hundreds of skulls and bones have been found at its bottom.
The Ik Kil was primarily used for sacred rituals, and no sacrifices were known to be performed there. It is possible for cenotes to collapse completely, resulting in a pool of open water, or partially collapsed with some portion of a rock overhanging. After taking a dip in the water, you will notice how clean and fresh it feels. The waters are said to possess healing properties. There is also a healing power in tranquility and nature! It will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life if you dive.
A restaurant and hotel are part of the complex that includes the cenote. During 2010, 2011, and 2014, Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series events were held in Ik Kil. Swimming in cenotes is not just safe, it’s one of nature’s most ideal swimming spots because they’re free from the dangers of the beach.
As cenotes have no current, you won’t encounter rip tides, waves, or boats when swimming in them. Fish, sharks, or even large crocodiles are not present. The remains of men and women, as well as young children and infants, can be found in certain cenotes. Many young male victims (mostly between the ages of 6 and 12) are mentioned in Maya mythology.
The cenotes are also home to other jungle creatures, such as iguanas, snakes, and birds. E. coli bacteria present in cenotes in this area do not all represent a danger to humans. However, the ones that cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, as well as respiratory diseases, may cause symptoms in some people. At least three cenotes near Tulum and the surrounding area have been found to contain a significant amount of bacteria, such as Escherichia Coli. Read More – Shiprock New Mexico
