PXL_20250424_230854201

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:49:22 +0100

THE MAYAN AREA

The Mayan area has been divided into three main zones for study:

THE NORTHERN ZONE
This zone encompasses the states of Yucatán and most of Campeche and Quintana Roo. The northern zone is a low, extensive limestone plain that rises gently above sea level, with semi-arid and stony soils, scarce rainfall, and chaparral vegetation. The porosity of the soils has allowed for the rapid infiltration of rainwater and the formation of underground drainage.

This infiltration has caused the roofs of the deposits to collapse in some areas,
so that they have emerged as natural sinkholes or cenotes. In this zone, where there are no rivers or lakes, human groups typically settled near the cenotes, which are the main source of fresh water.

THE CENTRAL ZONE

It extends from the Tupilco Lagoon in Tabasco to the Ulúa River in Honduras; it includes parts of Tabasco and Chiapas, southern Campeche and Quintana Roo, Belize, the Guatemalan Petén and adjacent lands to the east and west, as well as the western portion of Honduras. Although mostly low-lying, there are gentle hills and mountain ranges with dense tropical vegetation, savannas, marshy areas, and coastal plains. Towards
the south are numerous rivers
with ample flow, lakes, and lagoons; the
soil is more fertile and rainfall
is abundant.

SOUTHERN ZONE
It encompasses the most rugged part of the
Maya coast and the Pacific coasts,
from Chiapas to the
western portion of El Salvador. It has
volcanic soils in the
mountain ranges and coniferous forests; the coastal plain is warm and fertile. Cacao and salt came from this region. The Maya obtained
two highly valued materials from this zone, characterized
by significant mineral resources:
jade and obsidian.