Montezuma WellMontezuma
Well, a part of the Montezuma Castle National Monument, is a
368-foot well formed by the surface collapse of limestone bedrock.
This natural limestone sinkhole produces a flow of
about 1,400,000 gallons of water each day. The well and Wet Beaver Creek
were used to irrigate Sinagua agricultural fields. The water is highly
carbonated and contains high levels of arsenic. In 1968, Montezuma Well
was the subject of the first ever underwater archaeological survey to take place
in a National Park
The canals from Montezuma Well can be found off the Well Trail. The remains of the canals are easily visible around the nearby picnic area, which is South of the well. Some canals are restored for use today. The Yavapai refer to the site as Ahakaskyaywa.
They believe they emerged into this world through the well, and as such, it is a
very sacred place to them.
|   |