Deep beneath Mexico's southern Yucatan Peninsula lies a hidden world of subterranean caverns, rivers, and lakes, including the mesmerizing cenotes — glowing sinkhole lakes that are part of the country's natural wonders. However, the construction of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's ambitious Maya Train project is posing a significant threat to this delicate underground ecosystem.
The high-speed Maya Train, a $30 billion project spanning nearly a thousand miles, aims to connect tourist destinations like Cancun and Playa del Carmen with remote communities and archaeological sites. While touted as a development boon for the region, the train's construction is wreaking havoc on the intricate cave system, already imperiled by development and mass tourism.
