Candelaria Caves
Encyclopedia
The Candelaria caves is the name of a large natural cave
system in the municipalities of Chisec
and Raxruha
in Guatemala
. The main gallery has a length of 22 km, of which 12.5 km follows the underground passage of the Candelaria River. The total length of the cave system, including coulisses, secondary and upper passages, is estimated to be 80 km. Although Daniel Dreux, a French citizen, claims to have "discovered" the caves in 1974, he was actually the first known person to explore the cave using spelunking equipment. He was hosted and guided by Q'eqchi' Mayas
from local communities who were well aware of the caves' existence.
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
system in the municipalities of Chisec
Chisec
Chisec is a municipality in the north of the Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz that was founded in 1813. It is situated at 230m above sea level at . The municipality covers a territory of 1488 km². Approximately 95% of the municipality's inhabitants are Mayan, spread over the town of...
and Raxruha
Raxruha
Raxruha is a municipality in the north of the Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz. The municipality, which was formerly part of Chisec, was founded in 2008....
in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. The main gallery has a length of 22 km, of which 12.5 km follows the underground passage of the Candelaria River. The total length of the cave system, including coulisses, secondary and upper passages, is estimated to be 80 km. Although Daniel Dreux, a French citizen, claims to have "discovered" the caves in 1974, he was actually the first known person to explore the cave using spelunking equipment. He was hosted and guided by Q'eqchi' Mayas
Q'eqchi' people
Q'eqchi are one of the Maya peoples in Guatemala and Belize, whose indigenous language is also called Q'eqchi'....
from local communities who were well aware of the caves' existence.