Montezumas Well, Arizona

Montezuma Well, Arizona, is a huge sinkhole that is located near Montezuma Castle. It is an ancient limestone cavern that has captured the imaginations of both the ancient peoples and modern tourists. Today, many curious people come to visit its natural beauty and enjoy the picnic area that surrounds it.

No one would think that sinkholes and picnicking went together, or that ancient beliefs in legendary Aztec Emperors would be so close at hand. However, right in the middle of Arizona, the famous Montezuma Well provides all that and more. Visitors come to admire its magnificence, but also to learn about its intriguing history.

The well is actually about eleven miles from the main park. It developed many centuries ago from a thin layer of collapsed rock, and is now filled daily with water from varied underground rivers and streams. This limestone pool is warm and has provided a life support system for 1000's of years for both humans and wildlife.

It is surrounded by lush plant life, an oasis in the middle of grasslands and desert. It is about fifty five feet deep, three hundred and sixty eight feet deep.

The lively habitat that relies on it includes leeches, scorpions, amphipods and turtles. However, its high levels of carbon dioxide and no presence of oxygen means that no water life can survive. Nearby plants thrive there, including dagger, joint-fir, Mormon Tea, walnut, juniper and sycamore trees, as well as creosote, broom, brittlebush, mesquite and salt bushes. Even flowers abound, and birds fill the air.