Ik Kil facts for kids
Ik Kil is a beautiful natural pool, called a cenote, located near the town of Pisté in Yucatán, Mexico. It's found in the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula and is part of the Ik Kil Archeological Park. This park is very close to the famous ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza. Ik Kil is a popular spot where people can go for a swim.
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Discovering Cenote Ik Kil
A cenote is like a natural sinkhole or a deep well filled with clear water. Cenote Ik Kil is open to the sky, meaning you can see the sun and stars from inside. The water level is about 26 meters (85 feet) below the ground. To reach the water, there's a special stairway carved into the rock that leads down to a swimming platform.
This amazing cenote is quite large! It's about 60 meters (197 feet) wide and around 48 meters (157 feet) deep. It's a perfect place for a refreshing dip, surrounded by nature.
History and Importance of Ik Kil
Cenote Ik Kil is very close to the ancient Maya ruins of Chichen Itza. It's located right off the highway that goes to Valladolid. For the ancient Maya people, Ik Kil was a very special and sacred place. They believed it was connected to their rain god, Chaac.
Archaeologists and cave explorers have found interesting things in the waters of the cenote. They've discovered bones and pieces of jewelry, which tell us about the Maya's ancient traditions and how they used this sacred site for offerings.
Visiting Ik Kil Today
Today, Cenote Ik Kil is part of a larger area that has a restaurant and a hotel. This makes it easy for visitors to spend time exploring the cenote and the surrounding park.
Ik Kil has also been a famous spot for sports! It was chosen as a location for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2010, 2011, and 2014. Divers would leap from high platforms into the deep, clear waters of the cenote, which was an amazing sight.
Images for kids
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The cenote at Ik Kil
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Looking down into the cenote
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Stairs to access
