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 El Caracol Mayan Wind Warning Structure |
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Cozumel Region Information and Pictures
by Jim Krumm
Click here to go to the Computer Science Department Home Page for Casper College at www.caspercomsci.com.
Island of Cozumel
Cozumel is located in southern Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico, some 12 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula. The island is roughly 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. In 1961 Jacques Cousteau visited the island's beautiful coral reef and it has been well known ever since as a diving destination. The island's coral reef is now protected as Mexico's Cozumel Reefs National Park. There are also a number of underground rivers and caves on the island. The main city on the island is San Miguel del Cozumel with a population of about 71,000.In Mayan, the Cozumel means "Island of Swallows." Cozumel was a sacred place to the Mayans where they worshipped the fertility goddess, Ixchel. Mayan women made pilgrimages to the island for their goddess. However in 1518, Cortez destroyed many of the temples and shortly after small pox ravaged the island and few Mayans survived. Very little remains of Mayan settlement. Today the island is known for its beautiful white beaches and as a tourist destination.
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El Caracol Mayan Wind Warning Structure |
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Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is located on the Yucatan in Southern Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico. Its population is about 100,000. It has a harbor and ferries make daily passages between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen has white sand beaches and a thriving town center which caters to tourists. Fifty miles south of Playa del Carmen is the Mayan city of Tulum.
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Tulum
Tulum is a Mayan site in southern Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula south of Playa del Carmen. Surrounding the city is a defensive wall on three sides and sea cliffs on the fourth side. In Mayan, Tulum means wall. Sea Cliffs at Tulum are nearly 40 feet high. Tulum served as a link in transporting goods by sea going canoes and land routes in the Mayan culture. Tulum was particularly important in the trading of obsidian. Large mangrove wetlands border the site on its southern edge. Tulum is striking with the contrast of the crystal clear blue green sea, its white beaches, it ruins, and its cliffs. Collectivo vans run from Playa del Carmen to Tulum for about 35 pesos.
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©All rights reserved by James Krumm. Originally made available at www.caspercomsci.com. Materials here can be used, and redistributed, provided proper reference is made to the origin and author(s) of these materials. Please send any corrections or suggestions to jkrumm@caspercollege.edu. Last modified Aug. 10, 2010.
James Krumm |
