Sótano del Barro, Natural limestone sinkhole in Sierra Gorda mountains, Mexico
Sótano del Barro is a natural sinkhole in the Sierra Gorda mountains with an opening measuring roughly 420 meters long and 200 meters wide. The underground cavity extends approximately 455 meters deep, creating a massive oval-shaped void carved into limestone bedrock.
This sinkhole formed during the Lower Cretaceous period from El Abra limestone roughly 1.5 million years ago. American speleologists documented the site scientifically in January 1972, marking the first official recognition despite local knowledge of its existence stretching back generations.
Local communities have long regarded this sinkhole as a sacred natural site within their landscape. The place holds meaning as part of the region's identity and connection to the Sierra Gorda wilderness.
Reaching the sinkhole requires a two-hour hike from the nearest dirt road through rugged terrain in the municipality of Arroyo Seco. Plan your visit with sturdy footwear and check local conditions beforehand to ensure you are properly prepared.
The interior of this sinkhole is home to roughly forty pairs of Mexican military macaws, a parrot species native to the region. The vegetation at the bottom consists of ferns and trees reaching up to 20 meters tall, forming a self-contained ecosystem that few outsiders have witnessed.
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