Sunlight beams penetrate the crystal-clear waters of the pool, while schools of fish create shadows that dance across the limestone floor below. Above the verdant basin, milkstone walls cascade from the cave ceiling, spilling into the lush jungle beyond.
These radiant, upside-down lakes, known as cenotes, represent some of Mexico’s most remarkable natural attractions. They form a delicate network of approximately 10,000 underground caves, rivers, and lakes that lie hidden beneath the windswept Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico.
Currently, the construction of the Maya Train—considered the flagship initiative of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador—is rapidly disrupting sections of this concealed underground realm, which faces threats from development and mass tourism. As the caves gain attention ahead of the national presidential election, scientists and environmental advocates caution that railways pose a risk of lasting environmental damage.
Deep within the jungle, the thunder of heavy machinery pierces the soft “drip, drip, drip” sounds of the cave. The assembly of a train line, spanning just a few meters, is now underway. The construction involves embedding around 15,000 steel pillars into the limestone, utilizing massive drills operated by government workers.
Engineer Guillermo D. Christie reflects on the fate of the once pristine Immaculate Cave, now buried beneath a layer of concrete and shattered stalactites. Typically, one would encounter rock formations gracefully hanging from a cave’s ceiling. A mix of sorrow and frustration is evident on D. Christie’s face, a testament to his years of study of the cave’s flowing waters.
“We pour concrete into the cave and inject it into the aquifer with little thought or awareness,” remarked D. Christie. “It’s an absolute ecocide.”
Source: apnews.com