| Early this year, a pair of professional
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| | hands" of geologists, biologists,
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| divers uncovered a new landmark beneath
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| | chemists and other environmental
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| Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula. After
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| | researchers.
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| years of searching and thousands of
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| | Beyond the thrill of the dive, the cave
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| dives, Steve Bogaerts and his dive
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| | system highlights important ecological
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| partner, Robbie Schmittner, were able to
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| | issues regarding the area's drainage
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| find a connection between two massive
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| | patterns. Bogaerts says, "The point is
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| underwater cave systems. Bogaerts and
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| | that they're so interconnected. There are
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| Schmittner performed more than 500 dives
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| | so many cave systems that if there's a
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| of several hours over a course of four
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| | point of pollution in any one particular
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| years to connect the world's
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| | area it can spread very extensively
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| second-longest (Sistema Sac Actun) and
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| | throughout the entire system." According
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| third-longest underwater caves (Sistema
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| | to the divers, "awareness is growing, but
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| Nohoch Nah Chich). Since then, the
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| | it must keep pace with the extremely
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| Sistema Sac Actun (White Cave System) has
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| | rapid pace of development."
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| assumed the title of the world's largest
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| | For the tourist, the discovery of such
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| underwater cave. At over 95 miles in
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| | underground systems has opened the door
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| length, Sac Actun also stands as the
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| | to some of the most incredible dive
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| ninth-largest cave in the world,
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| | opportunities in the world. Thanks to the
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| including all dry cave systems.
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| | connection made early this year, divers
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| As underground waterways of this size are
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| | can visit several popular cenotes while
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| certainly rare, the development of the
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| | advanced divers can explore the dark
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| cave system over thousands of years
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| | depths of this unique system. Entering
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| provides an equally interesting story.
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| | the system through one of the area's
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| Several unique factors play a role in the
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| | numerous cenotes, divers will find over
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| creation of the area's sinkholes and
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| | 500,000 feet of caves to explore.
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| eventually the underground rivers. The
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| | According to an online message posted by
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| stretch of the Yucatan Peninsula known as
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| | Bogaerts after the discovery, divers now
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| the Riviera Maya rests on a base of
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| | have the opportunity to explore several
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| porous limestone, a stone that allows
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| | popular cenotes as part of a single cave.
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| rainwater to easily enter the underground
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| | He claims that "it is now possible to
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| cave systems. Meanwhile, the rainforests
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| | traverse from the Pabilany cenote - west
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| of the Yucatan Peninsula attract
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| | of the Calimba cenote on the Coba Road -
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| considerable precipitation, all of which
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| | around the Grand Cenote (Sac Actun),
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| drains toward the Caribbean Sea.
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| | Cenote Esqueleto (Temple of Doom), Cenote
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| After the water seeps through the
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| | Naval, Cenote Abejas, Cenote Nohoch Kin,
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| limestone and moves slowly east, the
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| | bypass Manati, press on to Balancanche,
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| relatively flat ground near the coastline
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| | Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, pass by the
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| fosters the creation of sinkholes - known
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| | Dinner Hole Cenote and end up in the
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| to divers and scientists as cenotes.
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| | Dirty Dog or Pet Cemetery Cenotes." If
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| Underground, the water becomes slightly
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| | you are familiar with diving around
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| acidic and dissolves rock as it moves,
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| | Cancun or have begun researching your
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| carving out these remarkable caves. In
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| | trip to the area, this new path is sure
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| fact, these unique ecological elements
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| | to excite.
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| were also responsible for the world's
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| | Bogaerts and Schmitter will continue
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| previous longest underground cave system
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| | exploring the Riviera Maya's underwater
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| - the 91-mile Sistema Ox Bel Ha, also
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| | caves, searching for more connections.
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| located in the Riviera Maya.
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| | Some have speculated that Sistema Sac
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| The cenotes, caves and rivers have played
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| | Actun could be connected to at least two
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| an important role in the cultural history
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| | additional cave systems, caves that would
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| of the region, as well. The Mayan culture
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| | add an additional 125 miles in length.
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| depended on the fresh water found in
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| | There is even a possibility that the
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| these systems for centuries, while the
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| | Riviera Maya might surpass the world's
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| underground rivers currently support the
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| | largest cave system - a title currently
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| tourist industries of Cancun and Cozumel.
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| | held by the 360-mile Mammoth Cave system
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| At the same time, the rivers are
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| | in Kentucky.
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| important to scientists analyzing the
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| | Time will tell what else lies beneath
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| human impact on the environment. In fact,
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| | Cancun and the Riviera Maya. In the
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| Bogaerts states that the adventurous
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| | meantime, visitors can explore some of
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| divers seeking out the connections of
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| | the most important - and undeniably
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| underground rivers serve as the "eyes and
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| | unique - caves in the world.
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