Rains, drought. Ponds and water holes
Exploring the historical and cultural significance of water resources
TAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Carlos Galindo Leal, Iván Montes de Oca Cacheux
Selva maya (2022/2022) by Fernando Constantino Martínez BelmarTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Water availability varies markedly seasonally in many parts of the world, and Mexico is no exception. In summer, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, so its rays fall directly on the country.
This causes an increase in temperature, greater evaporation and the subsequent rainy season.
Estaciones anuales de la tierra (2020/2020) by Adrian DeanTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
In winter, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, temperatures and evaporation decrease, causing rainfall to cease. In the Southern Hemisphere, the exact opposite occurs: temperatures rise in December and decrease in June.
Península de Yucatán (2022/2022) by Google Earth, Image Landsat/CopernicusTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
On the Yucatan Peninsula, instead of the four seasons found further north or south, two can be identified: dry and rainy. During the rainy season, hurricanes and cyclones contribute significantly to the rainfall.
Suelo cárstico y el agua subterránea (2020/2020) by Martin Broen / ChatGPT/OpenAITAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
However, on the peninsula, once rain falls, it quickly seeps into the calcareous soil like a sponge. This leaves very little accessible water available for use by the wide variety of organisms that inhabit the region.
Palenque (2017/2017) by Carlos Galindo LealTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
The ancient Mayan culture that flourished on the Yucatan Peninsula developed various solutions to manage water and ensure its availability during the dry season.
Aguada (2023/2023) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
One of these solutions was to cover the bottom of some depressions in the terrain with slabs where water naturally accumulates, "aguadas" (ponds) to prevent it from seeping in.
Chultún (2024/2024) by Carlos Galindo LealTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
They also built canals and underground chambers called “chultunes” to store water and corn, particularly in regions where cenotes were scarce.
Aguada (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
During the dry season (November to May), ponds become an invaluable resource for wildlife, playing a fundamental role in maintaining the ecosystem.
Aguada (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Wildlife quenches its thirst in these ponds, refreshes itself, and rids itself of parasites. However, these are also places where the chance of encountering predators increases.
Sartenejas (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Recently, in the jungles of the Calakmul region in the south of the peninsula, other less conspicuous but equally important water sources have been documented. Among them are the "sartenejas", small cavities in the rocks that collect rainwater.
Sartenejas (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Around 30 species of mammals and 76 species of birds visit the Sartenejas, including jaguars, tapirs, and peccaries, as well as birds such as the Great Curassow and the Ornate Hawk-Eagle.
Dendrotelmata (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Another reservoir of water in the great forests are tree hollows, where at least nine species of mammals and 23 species of birds have been documented visiting these spaces in search of the vital liquid.
Dendrotelmata (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
In addition to obtaining water, animals that visit these places find protein in the invertebrates that live in these holes.
Fauna en cuerpos de agua (2020/2020) by Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez / Carlos M. Delgado MartínezTAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
Thus, ponds, water holes, and tree hollows represent complementary sources of water that play a vital role in the survival of the numerous species that inhabit this region.
El futuro (2022/2022) by TAETAE (Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.)
The conservation of the Mayan Rainforest depends on preserving its composition and structure, as well as the natural water sources that regulate ecological processes and maintain one of the largest varieties of wildlife in the country.
Eduardo Mendoza Ramírez, Michoacan University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo
Carlos M. Delgado Martínez, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Carlos Galindo Leal, Transformation, Art and Education A.C.
Image curation: Iván Montes de Oca Cacheux
Transformación, Arte y Educación A.C.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.