World's longest underwater cave discovered in Mexico - could shed light on Mayan civilization

Daily Mail ^ | 17 January 2018 | Jennifer Newton

[mairdie]

The Gran Acuifero Maya (GAM), a project dedicated to the study and preservation of the subterranean waters of the Yucatan peninsula, said the 216-mile (347km) cave was identified after months of exploring a maze of underwater channels.

Near the beach resort of Tulum, the project found that the cave system known as Sac Actun, once measured at 163 miles, is actually connected with the 53-mile Dos Ojos system.

In a statement, GAM said for that reason, Sac Actun now absorbs Dos Ojos.

GAM director and underwater archaeologist Guillermo de Anda hailed the discovery as an 'amazing' find.

He also said it would help to understand the rich culture of the region, which was dominated by the Maya civilisation before the Spanish conquest.

[mairdie]

[mairdie]

PING

[caver]

Great pics!

[BenLurkin]

Beautiful.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Is this an example of rising sea levels wiping out an ancient city? Some may glom onto this and say look we have seen it happen before, and we will see coastal cities wiped out.

[ShadowAce]

Does the presence of stalactites imply that this cave was not always under water? I cannot grasp how a stalactite can form under water, given that I’ve been told they form through water dripping down.

[LydiaLong]

An underwater cave is shedding light?

[shotgun]

Perhaps it was an early Mayan drug cartel smuggling cave to avoid being spotted by the Spanish.

[caver]

This has happened over thousands of years. Way before man started burning fossil fuels. There are many underwater caves that have stalactites and stalagmites. They do not form underwater.

[caver]

You are correct. Those formations do not form underwater.

[PIF]

Here's a site you might find interesting - lots of pictures.
Oracle of the Dead, Baia - an investigation

[Popman]

Proof positive of either global warming or global cooling.../ S

[Puppage]

One must have balls of steel to cave dive. Yikes!

[Teflonic]

[Clutch Martin]

I wonder if Zorro’s hacienda has access?

[mairdie]

And they’d better be waterproof.

[alternatives?]

How does a cave help us understand their rich culture?

[rjsimmon]

Of course. The Mayan's used it for their submarine:

[lee martell]

Hail Atlantis!

[Puppage]

LOL.