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Dry Caves and Sumps of Quintana Roo Mexico

 

 

last updated 08 October, 2008

 


 

Cave exploration in Quintana Roo is normally focused on submerged passages due to regional geology, a shallow water table, and a historical penchant for underwater cave exploration. Although little is known about the extent or frequency of dry caves in Quintana Roo, our knowledge of these caves is expanding. We submit two catalogues as a foundation for understanding another aspect of the karst of Quintana Roo. This information is by no means complete.

 

Dry Caves of Quintana Roo
 
  Cave Name Length (Meters) Depth (Meters) # of Cave Entrances Reported Date
By
1 Sistema Pool Tunich 12038 -26 5 G. Vela 09/2008
2 Sistema Tixik K'una 4417 -6.6 10 J. Coke 10/2008
3 Sistema Yax Muul 2039 -6.0 20 Coke/Hendrickson 04/2007
4 Sistema Alux Sur 1663 -3.0 5 F. Devos 09/2002
5 Sistema Alux Oeste 1033 -3.0 4 F. Devos 04/2002
6 Sistema Las Palmas 781 -3.0 4 F. Devos 11/2002
7 Sistema Alux Norte 775 -3.0 3 F. Devos 03/2002
8 Sistema Aktun Sataal 636 -4.4 2 Coke/Richards 09/2008
9 Sistema Alux Este 508 -3.0 5 F. Devos 03/2002
10 Cueva Temazcal 502 ? ? A. Addison 10/2008
11 Sistema Santa Cruz 465 -14.9 3 M. Hendrickson 06/2007
12 Cueva Las Brujas 368 ? ? A. Addison 10/2008
13 Sistema Tak Be Luum 340 -14.9 2 Berni/Sieff 04/2005
14 Sistema Pica Piedra 265 -3.0 2 Devos/Richards 12/2004
15 Sistema Mil Columnas 219 -1.2 2 Mitchell/Richards 01/2005
16 Gruta Seashell 152 -3.0 1 F. Devos 11/2002
17 Sistema Chemuyil 141 -2.5 2 M. Hendrickson 04/2007
18 Gruta Palo 105 -3.0 1 F. Devos 03/2002
19 Cueva Chichan Muul 100 -4.2 1 J. Coke 11/2006
20 Gruta Lorenzo 76 -6.1 1 Riordan/Devos 03/2002
21 Sistema Cascabel 75 -3.0 2 F. Devos 11/2002
22 Cueva Corral 70 -7.8 ? A. Addison 10/2008
23 Gruta Satachanah 53 -6.4 1 J. Coke 06/2001

24

Cueva M2 43 -2.0 1 M. Hendrickson 06/2007

25

Cueva Powerline 42 -4.2 1 M. Hendrickson 03/2007

26

Cueva Palomita 21 -4.6 1 R. Schmittner 12/2007

27

Sistema Leon 18 -8.0 2 B. Phillips 04/2005

28

Sistema Eb 11 -5.3 3 J. Coke 09/2008
             
 

 

     

 

On rare occasions, both submerged and dry caves in Quintana Roo are connected by common tunnels. The table below lists surveyed cave assemblages, where both underwater and dry sections are joined by a sump(s). The names of dry caves are italicized. The final Total indicates the true depth and length of the complete cave.

 

Underwater Caves Connected to

Dry Caves in Quintana Roo

All Measurements in Meters

 

  Cave Name Length Depth Reported Date
By

1

Sistema Sac Actun

156287

-71.6

  R. Schmittner 09/2008
  Sistema Yax Muul

2039

-6.0

  Coke/Hendrickson 04/2007
 

Total

158326

-77.6

   
             
2 Sistema Dos Ojos 60965 -119.2   Bogaerts/Schmittner 06/2008
  Cueva M2 43 -2.0   M. Hendrickson 06/2007
 

Total

61008 -121.2      
             
3 Sistema Tux Kupaxa 8480 -14.6   R. Schmittner 04/2008
  Sistema Leon 18 -8.2   B. Phillips 04/2005
  Sistema Lion 755 -10.7   B. Phillips 05/2005
 

Total

9253 -22.8      
             
4 Sistema Tixik K'una 4417 -6.6   J. Coke 10/2008
  Sistema Xunaan Ha 2721 -13.4   B. Phillips 10/2007
  Cenote Templo (sump) 771 -21.0   Schmittner/Phillips 08/2003
 

Total

7909 -27.6      
             
5 Sistema Aktun Sataal 636 -4.4   Coke/Richards 09/2008
  Cenote Xel-Ha South 265 -6.1   B. Phillips 09/2008
 

Total

901 -10.5      
             
6 Cueva de Las Ruinas 377 -5.5   J. Coke 07/2001
  Gruta Satachanah 53 -6.4   J. Coke 07/2001
 

Total

430 -11.9      
             
7 Cenote Eb 248 -14.3   B. Phillips 09/2008
  Sistema Eb 11 -5.3   J. Coke 09/2008
 

Total

259 -19.6      
             
8 Cenote Palomita Spring 75 -4.3   L./T. English 12/2007
  Cenote Palomita Siphon 72 -3.7   L./T. English 12/2007
  Cueva Palomita 21 -4.6   R. Schmittner 12/2007
 

Total

168 -8.3      
             
9 Cuevas Lorenzo 50 -2.1   Riordan/Devos 03/2002
  Gruta Lorenzo 76 -6.1 Riordan/Devos 03/2002
 

Total

126 -8.2      
       

 

 

 

 

   
   
 

Updates and corrections are welcome: chac<at>consolidated.net

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