|
Calakmul
- Campeche
 Calakmul
is situated in the middle of the Calakmul biosphere
reserve, the largest tropical forest reserve in Mexico.
Set aside as a Biosphere Reserve in 1989, it is also
a major archaeology site. Very close to the Guatemalan
border, when you climb the tallest temple you can see
Meridor in the distance. There is a wealth of artifacts
just lying around the place at Calakmul. Bits of mayan
pottery, arrowheads and that kind of thing. It would
be very easy to just pick them up and take them home
as souvenirs, but the watchful guides frown heavily
if they see you doing it. Please leave everything where
you found it.
 Calakmul
is out of the way. You must travel 52km west of Xpuhil,
and from there it's another 60 km to the ruins. You
can camp at the ruins, but there are no facilities.
On the way to the site, you notice a change in the vegetation.
The closer you get to the ruins, the higher the tree
canopy becomes. This is where the howler monkeys and
jaguar live.
 There
are many large buildings at Calakmul. The great city
of Calakmul was discovered in 1931, but restoration
and mapping was only begun in 1985. The city extended
over 10 square miles and had over 600 structures. More
are being discovered almost daily. Its population at
its peak was over 50,000. The site has many Stelae (monumental
stones) with 103 have been found so far. The dates on
the stelae range from 364 to 810 AD.
 Calakmul
was at one time equal in power to Tikal. Quite a bit
is known about Calakmul because of the Stelae that have
been deciphered. Pictures of Calakmul don't do it justice
because of the trees that surround the place. You really
do feel that you are in a jungle when you visit. Not
pictured here is Structure II, the largest of all Mayan
pyramids. It is quite a task to climb, but the view
of the surrounding jungle is spectacular.
|
