Cenote Sagrado, Chichen Itza

The Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza, where Maya priests made offerings of jade, gold, and human sacrifices to Chaac the rain god, yielded over 30,000 artefacts when drained and excavated in the early 20th century by Edward Thompson. Though now closed to swimming due to its archaeological significance, the view from the rim over the 60-metre-diameter circular pool and the offerings recovered from its depths make it the most historically significant cenote in Mexico.