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The cenotes, also called sinkholesThey are usually found in karst areas, where the soil is of karst origin. Cenotes can be found in different parts of the world, although in some areas the formation of these is predominant thanks to the characteristics of the territory. For example, in Yucatán, it is estimated that there are approximately 7,000 to 8,000 cenotes, due to the karst origin of the area.
If you want to know what is a cenote and how is it formedBe sure to read this interesting article by Ecologist Verde, which will also show some of the best-known cenotes in the world and more information about these interesting formations.
What is a cenote
A cenote, also called a sinkhole or known by the Mayans with the word “tz’onot”, which means "cavern with water"It is a very curious underground formation that attracts the attention of most people.
We can say that, in a nutshell, a cenote is a body of underground water that is found deep in a cave or cavern and has been formed in a totally natural way. Another characteristic of the cenotes is that the water from these formations remains near the hole of the cave or cavern, so it enters certain amount of light, which facilitates vegetation and some animals.
To learn a little more about what are cenotes and groundwater itself, we encourage you to read these other articles about What are groundwater and about underground rivers: what they are and how they are formed.
How a cenote is formed and its types
The formation of a cenote It occurs in a totally natural way through the dilution processes of calcium carbonate rocks by the action of carbonic acid from the rains, in addition, the passage of water that passes underground or underground has a great influence on its formation. The rocks wear out and form vaults until the moment in which the roof of these becomes increasingly thin and ends up collapsing, leaving the flooded part totally or partially exposed.
Cenotes can be classified based on some characteristics and one another. Hall (1936) proposed a classification of the different types of cenotes according to their shape:
- Cenotes with a glass shape and a small opening.
- Cenotes with vertical walls, glass shape and large opening.
- Cenotes with sloping walls that reach a shallow pool.
- Cenotes cave with the presence of a side entrance that descends until it reaches a chamber with water inside.
However, the different types of cenotes can also be classified depending on age of the same:
- Cenotes under the open sky, being the oldest to be fully exposed.
- Semi-open cenotes, being those of intermediate age.
- Cenotes in grotto or underground, being the youngest as they still have the roof.
Another classification may be the one carried out (Navarro-Mendoza et al. 1988) that divides the cenotes into two types, depending on the proximity of these to the coast:
- Cenotes located on the coastline, those that are between 100-2,000 meters, characterized by containing marine and fresh water mixed in a more or less homogeneous way, so that in the water column it is defined as brackish water. The fauna found in these cenotes has a great marine influence.
- Cenotes located between 3,000 and 8,000 meters from the coast, the water is fresh or slightly brackish, since, although they are farther from the sea, the cracks they present allow the filtration of sea water, which is why a salty layer is formed under the fresh water layer.
Therefore, if we ask ourselves if a cenote is fresh or salt water, taking into account this previous classification, the reality is that they can be both fresh and salt water.
Flora and fauna of the cenotes
The flora and fauna of the cenotes is unique, since they are ecosystems that are very different from others that we know much more about (forests, rivers, coasts, etc.).
Flora of the cenotes
Apart from some aquatic plants and algae, the flora of these depends on the distance to the coast. For example, in the cenotes closest to the coast there are mangroves, ferns and palms. However, in those further afield you can find plants such as coconut palms, guayas, chicle or sapodilla trees and cacao.
Fauna of the cenotes
In them you can find fish such as, for example, the blind eel, the blind white lady and the Mexican axolotl, three threatened and endangered species. Also in them you can see iguanas, frogs, turtles, butterflies and a variety of birds, such as swallows or Toh birds.
What's at the bottom of a cenote
At the bottom of the cenotes we can find some aquatic plants and algae and some aquatic bottom animals, like some of the species of fish and amphibians, as well as organic remains of the vegetation and fauna of the place (for example, remains of branches and leaves or remains of organic waste from animals).
Apart from that, the pollution in the cenotes It is also a reality and, in fact, at the bottom of many of them, residues of all kinds have already been found, such as food wrappers, plastic containers, cans, batteries, toys, fishing nets, PET containers, among many others. . Here you can learn more about the contamination of groundwater, since these include that of the cenotes.
Examples of cenotes
Below, as examples of these underground formations, the names of the best known cenotes:
- Cenotes in Spain: the Pozo Azul and the Cenote de la Cueva del Moraig.
- Cenotes in Mexico: Here we mention some cenotes in Cancun and other cenotes in the Riviera Maya, such as Cenote Chacmool, Siete Bocas, Cenote Tajma, Cenote Azul, Cenote Ponderosa and Cenote Aktun Chen.
- Cenotes in Yucatan: Cenote Ik-Kil, Cenote X-keken, Cenote Zací, Cenote Lu’um, Kankirixché, Chukumaltic, Cenote calavera, among others.
Importance of cenotes in the Mayan culture
For the Mayan cultureIn other words, since ancient times, cenotes have been of great importance. Not just because these were a great water fountain, which is why the ancient Mayan cities settled near them, but because they were also considered as duality symbolIn other words, they were considered as portals that allowed contact with the world of the dead.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is a cenote and how is it formedWe recommend that you enter our Nature Curiosities category.
Bibliography- Suárez Morales, E. and Rivera Arriaga, E. (1998). Journal of the Mexican Society of Natural History. Hydrology and Aquatic Fauna of the Cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula: http://repositorio.fciencias.unam.mx:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11154/143136/48VHidrologiaFauna.pdf?sequence=1
- Drafting of the Explore magazine. (May 26, 2022). Explore Magazine. Flora and fauna of a cenote: http://www.explore.mx/flora-y-fauna-de-un-cenote/
