Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá, ruined ancient Maya city occupying an area of 4 square miles (10 square km) in south-central Yucatán state, Mexico. It is thought to have been a religious, military, political, and commercial centre that at its peak would have been home to 35,000 people. The site first saw settlers in 550, probably drawn there because of the easy access to water in the region via caves and sinkholes in limestone formations, known as cenotes. The brilliant history of Mayan culture can be seen at the splendid ruins of Chichén Itzá. This mighty city was once a center for the trade in cloth, slaves, honey and salt. It thrived from about 800 to 1200, and served as the political and economic center of the Maya civilization. The most familiar ruin at the site is El Caracol, a sophisticated astronomical observatory.

Chichén Itzá is located some 90 miles (150 km) east-northeast of Uxmal and 75 miles (120 km) east-southeast of the modern city of Mérida. The only source of water in the arid region around the site is from the cenotes. Two big cenotes on the site made it a suitable place for the city and gave it its name, from chi (“mouths”), chen (“wells”), and Itzá, the name of the Maya tribe that settled there. Chichén Itzá was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.

Nation: Mexico

Details: https://www.britannica.com/place/Chichen-Itza