Hydrogeology Journal, , Volume 19, Issue 3, pp 507–524
By Peter Bauer-Gottweini, Bibi, R.N. GondweGuillaume, E. Marin Mario Rebolledo-Vieyra Gonzalo Merediz-Alonso
The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer (click here) is one of the most extensive and spectacular karst aquifer systems on the planet. This transboundary aquifer system extends over an area of approximately 165,000 km2 in México, Guatemala and Belize. The Triassic to Holocene Yucatán limestone platform is located in the vicinity of the North American/Caribbean plate boundary and has been reshaped by a series of tectonic events over its long geologic history. At the end of the Cretaceous period, the Yucatán Peninsula was hit by a large asteroid, which formed the Chicxulub impact crater. The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer hosts large amounts of groundwater resources which maintain highly diverse groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Large parts of the aquifer are affected by seawater intrusion. Anthropogenic pollution of the aquifer has been increasing over the past few decades, owing to relentless economic development and population growth on the Peninsula. This review summarizes the state of knowledge on the Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer and outlines the main challenges for hydrologic research and practical groundwater-resources management on the Peninsula.
An entire landscape developed after the meteor struck Earth and the dinosaurs died. These incredible caverns, if they can be called that provided life to a people that has left civilization with so many gifts.
Another geologic formation (click here) that characterizes the Yucatán Peninsula is the cenote (pronounced say-no-tay). This word is derived from the Mayan word, 'Dzonot' which means; sacred well. More specifically, the word cenote refers to a large natural sink hole whose limestone covering has caved in years ago to reveal the running stream below. While some of these structures are simply vertical shafts filled with water, others are composed of underwater passageways....
By Peter Bauer-Gottweini, Bibi, R.N. GondweGuillaume, E. Marin Mario Rebolledo-Vieyra Gonzalo Merediz-Alonso
The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer (click here) is one of the most extensive and spectacular karst aquifer systems on the planet. This transboundary aquifer system extends over an area of approximately 165,000 km2 in México, Guatemala and Belize. The Triassic to Holocene Yucatán limestone platform is located in the vicinity of the North American/Caribbean plate boundary and has been reshaped by a series of tectonic events over its long geologic history. At the end of the Cretaceous period, the Yucatán Peninsula was hit by a large asteroid, which formed the Chicxulub impact crater. The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer hosts large amounts of groundwater resources which maintain highly diverse groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Large parts of the aquifer are affected by seawater intrusion. Anthropogenic pollution of the aquifer has been increasing over the past few decades, owing to relentless economic development and population growth on the Peninsula. This review summarizes the state of knowledge on the Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer and outlines the main challenges for hydrologic research and practical groundwater-resources management on the Peninsula.
An entire landscape developed after the meteor struck Earth and the dinosaurs died. These incredible caverns, if they can be called that provided life to a people that has left civilization with so many gifts.
Development of land in so many countries, such as Mexico, is counter productive to the people and to the countries GDP. No one is going to Mexico to see the fires.
In one place in the world where it was virtually impossible for fires to develop, human beings managed to make the conditions perfect for it. Amazing.
