“Dire Drought in Yucatán: Cenote and Lagoon Dry Up”

The severe drought currently gripping Yucatán is causing cenotes and water springs to dry up. In the heart of the Tahcabo community in Calotmul, eastern Yucatán, the effects of the drought are clearly visible. The absence of rainfall and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees for 20 consecutive days have left the local cenote nearly dry.

Local resident, Guadalupe Hernández, expressed her sadness, "My family and I often came here to cool off during the hot season, but seeing it all dry now is heartbreaking. We're forced to look for other places to go, but it's tragic what's happening."

Yucatán is currently going through one of its worst heat seasons, experiencing an extreme drought of historic proportions. Groundwater levels have reached critical lows. In El Cuyo, another area in Yucatán, fires have impacted the Río Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. A dried-up lagoon in the area is a stark illustration of the global warming affecting the planet. Where water once reached three meters deep, the land is now dry and arid, with the mangrove nearly depleted.

Manuel Sánchez, director of the Environmental Management Unit, shared his concerns, "We used to offer kayak tours when the water was at its highest level, providing us with a source of income. Now it's completely dry, and we can only offer bird watching tours, jungle walks, and trap camera collections. Our main attraction, the kayak, is no longer an option due to the drought."

He added, "The drastic increase in temperature affects everyone, not just the wildlife. Water scarcity is causing artisanal wells to dry up, and it's impacting everyone and everything. This is the second year of the worst drought in Yucatán since 2020. The intense heat and lack of rainfall have dried out more than 60% of the country."