The Yucat谩n peninsula in south-east Mexico is riddled with holes. When a giant asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago near what is now the town of Chicxulub, the impact created a massive depression and caused fracturing of the porous limestone bedrock. Over millions of years, rainwater has dissolved the stone, creating underground rivers, caves and cenotes (sinkholes).
Photographer Martin Broen has explored 280 of the Yucat谩n鈥檚 cenotes, atmospheric shots of which are collected in his book , out now in the US and on 17 September in the UK. This image, taken in 2020, shows the cave area of a cenote called Chan Aktun Ha (a Mayan name meaning 鈥渓ittle water cave鈥�) in the state of Quintana Roo. Here, a cave diver is exploring among pristine stalactites and stalagmites.
鈥淒uring rain showers in the Mexican jungle, water washes tannin from the vegetation into the cenotes, creating a tannic acid solution,鈥� says Broen. 鈥淭hese natural filters provide a surreal green, yellow or red atmosphere to the caverns.鈥�
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The shallow caves of the Yucat谩n Peninsula have been flooded for the past 8000 years. 鈥淭he more I dive, the more I discover the beauty and secrets of these caves, uncovering unique fossils of extinct megafauna, indications of the first Palaeo-Americans, and Mayan artefacts,鈥� says Broen.
But, he adds, cenotes aren鈥檛 just a window into the past but 鈥渢he veins that carry all fresh water in the region鈥�. With pollution, deforestation and development all a threat, Broen hopes his photos can help people care about what lies beneath their feet.
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by Martin Broen is published by Rizzoli priced at 拢46.00
麻豆传媒 video
Divers discover manatees in Yucat谩n cave habitat
