Calakmul Archaeological Ruins.

Calakmul Biosphere Reserve Deep In
The Yucatán Peninsula, Rio Bec Region. México.
Travel & Tour
Pictures, Photos, Images, & Reviews.

George & Eve DeLange

Google Map To The Calakmul Archaeological Ruins.
On The Yucatán Peninsula. Rio Bec Region.
About 1 km From Xpujil, Campache, Mexico.

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"Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) On The Road To Calakmul, In The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

"Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) On The Road To Calakmul, In The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

Stele Are Common In Calakmul; Over 130 Have Been Found. But They Are Very Worn & Weathered Making Them Hard To Read.

Stele Are Common In Calakmul; Over 130 Have Been Found. But They Are Very Worn & Weathered Making Them Hard To Read.

"Emergent layer Of The Rainforest Canopy Below The Largest Pyramids. Audrey DeLange Took The Photo From The Top Of Structure Two, The Largest Pyramid.

Audrey DeLange On Calakmul's Largest Structure. Pyramid Number Two. With Four Tombs Inside. (About 2sq. km. amd 55 m. 180.45 Feet Tall.)

Ball Court. Calakmul Archaeological Ruins.

Calakmul or as sometimes called; Kalakmul, (pronounced kah-lock-MOOL), Campeche: To enter the Mayan ruins of Calakmul it was necessary to enter by traveling through the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, one of the very last of the Yucatan rainforests. This is as great of an experience as actually visiting the ruins! Mexico is host to approximately 10% of all plant and animal species in the world. Unfortunately, hundreds of species are added to the endangered species lists because of man-made threats. With more than 1,700,000 acres, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve is the second largest protected area in Mexico. It is among the few remaining areas in the American Continent where jaguars still roam. Depending upon whose reports you read, there are between 400 to 700 jaguars in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. While traveling through part of the reserve we saw many different animals and plants. It is 30 km from the Guatemalan border and north of the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region; so there is a lot of wildlife! We will enclose a few pictures of the wildlife that we saw. Calakmul is the name given to site of one of the largest ancient Maya cities ever uncovered to date. In addition to the Mayan city of Calakmul, the La Muñeca ruins, Hormiguero and Balamkú are nearby. It is said that Calakmul contains 6,750 ancient structures as well as, the tallest pyramid in Mexico. It covers an area of about 42 square miles. Calakmul has two acropolis, a ball court, numerous temples, numerous pyramids, including one of the largest in the entire Mayan world. Its name in Mayan means "city of two adjacent pyramids". Referring to Pyramid I and Pyramid II. Pyramid Number Two. has four tombs inside. (About 2sq. km. amd 55 m. 180.45 Feet Tall.) People often get confused when discussing (a. the tallest Pyramid) and (b. the largest Pyramid) in Calakmul. I want to straighten out that point. Pyramid I is the tallest! Pyramid II is the largest! The confusion seems to be about the fact that there are two structures involved. Structure I and Structure II. When standing if front of Structure II; it has Pyramid II built on top of Structure II. What you see and call Pyramid II, is also called Structure II B. What you think is Pyramid II, is really Structure II B, which was built on of the terraces of Structure II. So, putting Pyramid II and Structure II B together, you get one huge structure, called Structure II.. But, Pyramid II is then really shorter than the Pyramid I, which is sitting all alone south of (Pyramid II built on top of Structure II), all by itself, on top of no other structure. When you climb up to the top of Pyramid II on top of Structure II, you'll see that there really is a pyramidal complex nearby that is even higher. The higher one is Structure I; which is also called, Pyramid I! Structure I or Pyramid I is located further south than Pyramid II. Structure I or Pyramid I freestanding is 45 m. or 147.64 feet high. Calakmul is estimated to have had a population of about 50,000 people and its power extended as far away as about 100 miles. Not only is Calakmul one of the largest Maya cities from the late pre-Classic and Classic Periods, but it also ranks with Tikal and Caracol as one of the most important of the Mayan cities. Calakmuls leaders influence has been called the "Serpent Head Polity," because of the use of a serpents head by their leaders. This Serpent Head Polity reigned, during most of the Classic Maya Period, during the same time as the powerful city - state of Tikal. As proof of its power; archaeologists have discovered the remains of several high-ranking captives, providing some evidence of Calakmul's power and influence in the Mayan World.