Candelaria caves
| Candelaria caves
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 Stalagmites, stalactites and stalagnates |
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| Location: | Near the city of Raxruhá , Guatemala | |
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Geographic location: |
15 ° 51 '58 " N , 90 ° 2' 36" W | |
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| Geology: | Karst | |
| Type: | Stalactite cave | |
| Overall length: | 80 km | |
The Candelaria Caves are a cave formation in the Guatemalan province of Alta Verapaz between the cities of Chisec and Raxruhá . They are important for the history of the Maya .
geology
They are karst caves with speleothems such as stalagmites , stalactites , stalagnates and sintered plumes. Cave windows created by ceiling collapses let light fall into the cave system. The main tunnel is 22 km long and the Candelaria River flows through it for a total of 12.5 km. The entire cave system is around 80 km long, making it one of the largest in Latin America.
history
The great trade route of the Mayan Classic, which connected the present-day Guatemalan highlands with the Mayan states of the Petén , crossed the area of the Candelaria Caves. Numerous ceramic finds have shown that traders used the caves for ceremonies. In the Popol Vuh of the late classical Quiche Maya , the caves are called the entrance to the underworld .
administration
The Candelaria Caves were declared a national park by the Guatemalan government in 1999. After lengthy disputes with the authorities, the local Q'eqchi - Maya managed to gain control of the caves and their tourist use.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Description of the Candelaria Caves , accessed on February 15, 2015
- ↑ Woodfill 2007, pp. 145-183
- ↑ FLAAR report , accessed on February 15, 2015
- ↑ Kekchi take control of the caves , accessed February 15, 2015
Selected bibliography
- Woodfill, Bret Kerry Skoy: Shrines of the Pasión -Verapaz Region, Guatemala: Ritual and Exchange along Ancient Trade Route. (Dissertation) Nashville 2007.
Web links
- Candelaria Caves - Photos + Info (Spanish)