In the labyrinth of underground jungle caves of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, flows the longest underground river known today. Concurrently, it bears the status of the most impressive Mexican attraction, which amazes with its marvelous geological formations. The bends and bends of the water flow along the limestone caves stretch for 215 km. It is part of the system of underground rivers called Sak-Aktun, which is translated from the Mayan language as "white cave". Its total length reaches several tens of thousands of kilometers, of which no more than 1% has been studied.
According to the results of scientific research, the origin of the river took place about 65 million years. There is an assumption that in those distant times a large meteorite fell on the territory of the Mexican Peninsula, forming a huge crater (284 km), completely dotted with numerous depressions and cracks. After some time, the funnel was filled with rainwater, as a result of which an extraordinary system of underground rivers was formed.
Sak-Aktun was discovered on a whim in late January 1989 by two scuba divers-cavers. They arrived in Mexico from the United States for planned dives in the underground lakes of the Caribbean coast, which are located in the national tourist and historical zone of the Riviera Maya.
For the Maya Indians, since ancient times, underground rivers were sacred - according to their beliefs, the streams of water hidden under the ground personify the kingdom of the dead, called Xibalba, into which the souls of the dead fall, and there is no way out from there. An interesting story is connected with this, which contributed to the current popularity of the Sak-Aktun River among tourists from all over the world.
One sunny day, the Mayan Indians went hunting in the jungle of Yucatan, just north of the city of Tulum on the Mayan Riviera. Everything was calm, the hunters were leisurely going about their business. When the sun crossed the horizon, the Indians returned to the village, where they found that not all participants in the hunt had returned home - one of the hunters mysteriously disappeared. As it turned out later, wandering in search of prey, he suddenly fell underground and found himself lying in cool water in pitch darkness, where not a single, even the slightest, sound could be heard. Having explored the surrounding area a little, the Indian discovered that there were no trees or any other vegetation here. After a while, he heard a sound resembling the sound of falling drops. Then the man realized that this place is Xibalba, the afterlife, from where there is no exit. The realization came to him that underground caves contain a huge number of rivers stretching for thousands of kilometers, and the likelihood of finding a way out is practically zero. For several days, the Indian swam through the limestone labyrinths in impenetrable darkness. After some more time, he began to hear the voices of Xibalba, dispelling his fear and giving a feeling of peace. He swam deeper and deeper - towards the voices calling him. And when, it would seem, the hope of salvation was practically lost, the Indian saw a light that penetrated from the depths of water. The daredevil swam towards the light, and when he emerged, he found himself in the jungle, where salvation awaited him. For several days, the Indian swam through the limestone labyrinths in impenetrable darkness. After some more time, he began to hear the voices of Xibalba, dispelling his fear and giving a feeling of peace. He swam deeper and deeper - towards the voices calling him. And when, it would seem, the hope of salvation was practically lost, the Indian saw a light that penetrated from the depths of water. The daredevil swam towards the light, and when he emerged, he found himself in the jungle, where salvation awaited him. For several days, the Indian swam through the limestone labyrinths in impenetrable darkness. After some more time, he began to hear the voices of Xibalba, dispelling his fear and giving a feeling of peace. He swam deeper and deeper - towards the voices calling him. And when, it would seem, the hope of salvation was practically lost, the Indian saw a light that penetrated from the depths of water. The daredevil swam towards the light, and when he emerged, he found himself in the jungle, where salvation awaited him.which penetrated from the water depths. The daredevil swam towards the light, and when he emerged, he found himself in the jungle, where salvation awaited him.which penetrated from the water depths. The daredevil swam towards the light, and when he emerged, he found himself in the jungle, where salvation awaited him.
An Indian who has been in the underworld is named Manu. Upon returning home, he gathered all his friends and relatives and went with them into the jungle - to the place where there is a hole into which a hunter recently fell. Using the ropes, they went down into the depths of the abyss leading to the underground river, turned on the light and saw a fantastic picture.
But not only the Maya Indians attribute supernatural abilities to the Sak-Aktun River: many people who have been in the bowels of the cave system talk about mysteries and inexplicable things that happen there. Some visitors claim that this place is alive, and after visiting the underground rivers, life seems to start anew, takes a new countdown. Here it becomes clear why, since ancient times, the Maya people revered the rivers flowing under the ground not only as a life-giving source of fresh water, but also as an important part of the spiritual world.
Diana Gerasimova
Promotional video: