In The Alien Element, Rakulo explores an interconnected cenote and underground cave system, looking for a way beyond the Wall that borders the edges of his world.
Although I used it for my own ends in a science fiction setting, this idea was based on my experience swimming in a Cenote in Mexico, and visiting the beautiful monuments at Chichen Itza.
Needless to say I was delighted to learn that in January 2018, divers discovered the world’s largest underwater cave system in Mexico.
Even more exciting? They believe it is filled with Mayan mysteries.
Now that’s my kind of story. The article on BigThink reads:
Mexican scientists discovered the world’s largest flooded cave system that extends an amazing 216 miles (347 km) and is filled with artifacts. […]
“This immense cave represents the most important submerged archaeological site in the world,” said de Anda. ”It has more than a hundred archaeological contexts, among which are evidence of the first settlers of America, as well as extinct fauna and, of course, the Maya culture.”
The current research effort took 10 months and proved that two caves systems – the Sac Actun System and the Dos Ojos caves are actually part of one continuous and, certainly gigantic, cavity in the Earth.
Even just the names of those caves fire the imagination.
I can’t wait to see what else they discover. Here’s a cool video that pictures the carving shown above as well as some other footage of the scuba divers who explored the caves to make the new discovery.
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