Chichén Itzá - Mexico | Ashtabula County District Library

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Chichen Itza is located in the Mexican state of Yucatan in Tinum.
Chichen Itza was built by the Mayan people. The Maya Era was around AD 250 to 900, this period was before the Aztec Era; around 14th to 16th Century.
The meaning of the name 'Chichen Itza' is 'at the mouth of the well of the Itza'.
It is thought that the construction of Chichen Itza began during 750 and 900 AD.
The city of Chichen Itza was built on rough terrain covering an area of 5 square kilometers or more. The area had to be manually levelled off before construction work could begin.
The pyramid is known as 'El Castillo' and the 'Temple of Kukulkan'. This fabulous structure has one step for every day of the year - 365 steps in total. The pyramid forms a temple with four sides; each side has 91 steps making the top level the 365th step.
The pyramid structure is incredible not just for its architecture but also for its calendar formation. It is somewhat a mystery how a shadow falls upon the pyramid twice a year forming the shape of serpent!
The only source of water available to the people of Chichen Itza was provided through natural sinkholes known as cenotes. There were no rivers or streams passing through this area. Chichen Itza was abandoned by its inhabitants in the 1400s. The reason for this remains unclear; however, it is thought that droughts in the area and lack of water may have been a likely cause.