Twice a year, during the equinox, a shadow on the north staircase of the pyramid takes the shape of a descending serpent--huge crowds gather to witness the event.
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| CANCUN III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| In the jungles of Yucatan lies one of the largest and best preserved archeological sites in Mexico, Chichen Itza. The ruins are a strange combination of Mayan and Toltec influences, spanning hundreds of years of intermittent inhabitation. Founded around the middle of the fifth century by the Mayans, Chichen Itza was taken over at some point by the Toltecs, probably around the year 900. It flourished until a point around the year 1200, at which time it was abandoned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ChichenItza - Mexico - December/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ChichenItza "El Castillo" - Mexico - December/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ChichenItza "El Castillo" - Mexico - December/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One of the highlights in ChichenItza is El Castillo, the pyramid-like structure with its steep stone stairs (a troublesome climb for some, but definitely worth it for the view). Twice a year, during the equinox, a shadow on the north staircase of the pyramid takes the shape of a descending serpent--huge crowds gather to witness the event. |
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| Other highlights of ChichenItzainclude the ball court (the largest ever discovered), the astronomical observatory, a deep, circular cenote (sacred well), the Temple of the Warriors, and the group of the thousand columns. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See our visit to X-Caret | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ChichenItza "Temple of the Warriors" - Mexico - December/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||