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Dry Caves and Sumps of
Quintana Roo Mexico |
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last updated
04 February 2024 |
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Cave exploration in Quintana
Roo is normally focused on submerged passages due to regional
geology, a shallow water table, and a historical penchant for
underwater cave exploration. Although little is known about the
extent or frequency of dry
caves in Quintana Roo, our knowledge of these caves is
expanding. We submit two catalogues as a foundation
for understanding a further aspect of the karst of
Quintana Roo. This information is by no means complete.
The first table (Dry Caves of Quintana Roo)
lists caves that are not connected to an underwater cave
through a surveyed sump. We limit the below roster to
dry caves over 1500 meters in length. If you are interested in
reviewing the entire list of reported dry caves, please go
here for our dry cave records to 500 meters. |
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The second table (Sumps of
Quintana Roo) lists caves connected by underwater and dry cave
passages. We limit this roster to caves to those in excess of 1500
meters. A full account of dry and underwater cave connections is available
here. |
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QRSS reports data shared by independent
survey groups. QRSS does not use cave depths or elevations reported
by civilian GPS machines. We prefer to rely on reported underwater and dry
cave survey depths starting from the highest cave entrance Zero Datum. |
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Current Dry Cave
Update is
Here |
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Dry Caves of Quintana Roo |
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Dry
Caves to 1500 m in
Length |
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Cave
Name |
Length (Meters) |
Depth (Meters) |
# of Cave
Entrances |
Reported |
Date |
| By |
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1 |
Sistema
Chango Mistico |
12006 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
03/2016 |
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2 |
Pixan Bel |
11899 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
08/2017 |
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3 |
Sist. Quijada de Jaguar (Jaguar Jaw)
|
10900 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
04/2018 |
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4 |
Sistema Texcoco |
8197 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
01"2016 |
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5 |
Sistema
Dos Arboles |
7951 |
-17.0 |
45 |
Sprouse
Teams |
03/2016 |
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6 |
Sistema del Vivero (y C. del Templo) |
4304 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2016 |
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7 |
Sistema
Pulpo |
4153 |
-15.0 |
14 |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2011 |
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8 |
Sist. Fauces de Jaguar (Jaguar Maw) |
3816 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2017 |
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9 |
Cueva
de Camaras |
3811 |
-4.0 |
2 |
Sprouse Teams |
09/2014 |
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10 |
Sistema Aktun Chen (Show
Cave) |
3540 |
? |
4(?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
03/2016 |
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11 |
Sistema
Ruta de los Guerreros |
3487 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
12/2017 |
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12 |
Muuch |
3469 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
12/2018 |
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13 |
Xuux Puja'an |
3281 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
12/2017 |
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14 |
Jaguar
Paw (Ox Balam name change) |
2717 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
01/2015 |
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15 |
Cueva Yum Ka'ax (Ka'pe Chich) |
2646 |
-9.1(?) |
2(?) |
Czech Speleological Society |
01/2020 |
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16 |
Sistema Kantenah |
2640 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
03/2018 |
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17 |
Cueva Pacto One |
2576 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2018 |
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18 |
Cueva Pal Ha |
2256 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2017 |
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19 |
Cueva
Carretera Perdida |
2204 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
02/2016 |
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20 |
Cueva
Chéel Náajal |
2127 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2013 |
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21 |
Cueva Chan Xi'ik |
2037 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2017 |
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22 |
Sistema
del Tercer Ojo |
1962 |
-5.3(?) |
5 (?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
11/2010 |
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23 |
Nohoch
Aktun |
1922 |
? |
1(?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
12/2017 |
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24 |
Sist. Garganta de Jaguar (Jag. Craw) |
1855 |
? |
2(?) |
Sprouse Teams |
12/2018 |
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25 |
Explor |
1853 |
? |
? |
Sprouse
Teams |
03/2017 |
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26 |
Sistema Kana Kiwi |
1850 |
-6.0 |
2 |
Sprouse
Teams |
12/2018 |
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27 |
C.
Media Luna (Rancho Actun Chen) |
1670 |
-6.0 |
1(?) |
Sprouse
Teams |
09/3012 |
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28 |
Sistema
Alux Sur |
1663 |
-3.0 |
5 |
F.
Devos |
09/2002 |
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29 |
K'ek'en Ha |
1624 |
? |
? |
Sprouse
Teams |
12/2018 |
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29 |
Chichan Kin Belai |
1610 |
? |
? |
Sprouse Teams |
03/2017 |
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30 |
Actun Zac |
1591 |
? |
? |
Sprouse Teams |
03/2016 |
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On occasion, both
submerged and dry caves in Quintana Roo are connected by common tunnels.
The table below lists surveyed cave assemblages where both
underwater and dry sections are joined by a sump(s). The Total for each cave
system indicates the true
depth and length of the complete dry and wet cave. |
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Given the proximity of most underwater caves to the
coast, we use the water table as Zero Datum for the list below. To simplify this list, the name of the cave
system is mentioned first.
Reported Sump Sections length sums the total of all sump surveys
to or between dry sections.
Reported Dry Cave Sections length sums the total of all dry surveys
to or between sump sections.
The reported dry section depth is the deepest dry cave
survey station reported from highest surveyed land surface
entrance down to the water table (Zero Datum). Underwater surveys
continue to the deepest surveyed station depth. |
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Underwater cave names and Sump Sections are not italicized.
Dry Cave Sections are italicized. If you are interested in
reviewing an expanded summary, please see the Current Sump Cave
Updates here for a download. |
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Current Sump Cave Report is
Here |
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Underwater Caves Connected to |
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Dry Caves in Quintana Roo |
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Sumped Caves
to 1500 m in Length |
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Cave
Name |
Length |
Depth |
Date |
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1 |
Sistema
Sac Actun |
378560 |
-101.2 |
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09/2022 |
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Sump
Sections |
51.7 |
-2.4 |
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10/2016 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
7510.4 |
-11.0 |
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09/2018 |
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Total |
386122.1 |
-112.2 |
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2 |
Sistema
K'oox Baal |
102901 |
-26.2 |
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09/2022 |
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Sump
Sections |
201.5 |
-10.7 |
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02/2010 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
633.2 |
-8.2 |
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04/2012 |
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Total |
103735.7 |
-34.4 |
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3 |
Sistema
Xunaan Ha |
52214 |
-27.1 |
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05/2013 |
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Sump
Sections |
1680 |
-21.0 |
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08/2010 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
6551 |
-6.7 |
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06/2011 |
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Total |
60445 |
-33.8 |
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4 |
Sistema Pool Tunich |
50401.0 |
-20.0 |
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11/2018 |
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Sump Sections |
1510 |
-4.0 |
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11/2015 |
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Total |
51911 |
-24.0 |
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5 |
Sistema Garra de Jaguar (Jaguar Claw) |
47088 |
? |
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08/2018 |
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Garra
de Jaguar Sumps |
191 |
? |
|
04/2015 |
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Total |
47279 |
? |
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6 |
Sistema
Ponderosa |
14683 |
-20.4 |
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03/2018 |
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Dry Cave Sections |
7484 |
-8.0 |
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12/2017 |
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Total |
22167 |
-28.4 |
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7 |
Sistema
Sac Muul |
13654 |
-21.0 |
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11/2015 |
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Sump Sections |
20 |
-8.0 |
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12/2011 |
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Total |
13674 |
-29.0 |
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8 |
Sistema
Sac Kai (Paachil Nah) |
11844 |
-15.2 |
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07/2017 |
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Sump
Sections |
1049 |
-15.8 |
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05/2016 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
316 |
-8.4 |
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04/2014 |
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Total |
13209 |
-24.2 |
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9 |
Sistema Zumpango |
12826 |
? |
|
03/2017 |
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Sistema Zumpango Sumps |
378 |
? |
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03/2016 |
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Total |
13204 |
? |
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12/2017 |
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10 |
Sistema
Cupul Ha |
11027 |
-14.0 |
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03/2014 |
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Ka't
Sump One |
88 |
-6.7 |
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12/2013 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
37 |
-0.0 |
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03/2014 |
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Total |
11152 |
-14.0 |
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11 |
Sistema
Chac Mol |
? |
? |
|
03/2018 |
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Chac
Mol Dry Sections |
? |
? |
|
08/2018 |
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Total |
11103 |
? |
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12 |
Sistema
Taj Majal |
9954.2 |
-23.8 |
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08/2017 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
70.0 |
-6.1 |
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07/2017 |
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Sump
Sections |
69.8 |
-6.1 |
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07/2017 |
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Total |
10094.0 |
-29.9 |
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13 |
Sistema
Minotauro |
8739 |
-16.8 |
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08/2013 |
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Cenote Estrella Dry Cave |
87 |
? |
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12/2018 |
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Total |
8826 |
? |
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14 |
Sistema
Exploradora Sump |
5881.9 |
-17.4 |
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07/2020 |
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Sistema Exploradora |
917.4 |
-10.3 |
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04/2018 |
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Total |
6799.4 |
-27.7 |
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15 |
Sistema Ruta de los Guerreros |
? |
? |
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12/2017 |
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Guerreros Tails Sump |
? |
? |
|
11/2015 |
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Guerreros Orisha Sump |
? |
? |
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03/2012 |
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Total |
3966 |
-13.7? |
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16 |
Sistema Aktun T'uyul |
3145 |
? |
|
12/2018 |
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Sistema
Aktun T'uyul Sumps |
339 |
? |
|
03/2017 |
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Total |
3484 |
? |
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17 |
Sistema
Muuch |
2128 |
-5.5 |
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07/2014 |
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Cueva Culebron, R1, Culebrita |
1341 |
? |
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03/2018 |
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Total |
3469 |
-5.5 |
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18 |
Sistema Yuum Kaax (Diva Pitaci M.) |
? |
-9.1 |
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01/2020 |
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Yuum
Kax Sumps |
? |
? |
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01/2020 |
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Total |
2646.3 |
-9.1 |
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19 |
Sistema Kantenah |
? |
? |
|
03/2018 |
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Kantenah Sumps |
? |
? |
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03/2018 |
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Total |
2640 |
? |
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20 |
Sistema Altar Tigre |
2165 |
-8.4 |
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09/2015 |
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Sump Sections |
442 |
-4.6 |
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09/2014 |
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Total |
2607 |
-13.0 |
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21 |
Sistema
Casa del Jaguar |
2419 |
-8.8 |
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12/2012 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
49 |
? |
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12/2012 |
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Total |
2468 |
-8.8 |
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22 |
Sistema Swan Lake |
2023 |
-14.6 |
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05/2010 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
320 |
-5.2 |
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03/2010 |
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Total |
2343 |
-19.8 |
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23 |
Sistema
Zukunoob Noh |
2071 |
-16.2 |
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07/2017 |
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Cueva Chi Chi Beh |
62 |
-8.7 |
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10/2018 |
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Total |
2133 |
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24 |
Alamo Sump |
1504.1 |
-7.6 |
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01/2021 |
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Cueva Alamo |
579.9 |
-3.7 |
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01/2018 |
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Total |
2084 |
-11.3 |
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25 |
Sistema
Misterio Maya |
1547 |
-11.3 |
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01/2015 |
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Dry
Cave Sections |
466 |
-2.1 |
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02/2015 |
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Total |
2013 |
-13.4 |
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26 |
Sistema Trono |
1397 |
-6.0 |
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09/2014 |
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Sump
Sections |
370 |
-22.9 |
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09/2013 |
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Total |
1767 |
-28.9 |
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27 |
Sistema Tres Banderas |
1472 |
? |
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02/2016 |
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Sump
Sections |
80 |
? |
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02/2016 |
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Total |
1552 |
? |
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Updates and corrections are welcome:
chac<at>consolidated.net
© QRSS, 2000-2024
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