The Cascadas de Agua Azul (Spanish for "Blue Water waterfall") are a series of waterfalls found on the Xanil River in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. They are located in the Municipality of Tumbalá, 69 kilometres (43 mi) from Palenque, near Mexican Federal Highway 199.

Agua Azul
Agua Azul is located in Mexico
Agua Azul
Location in Mexico
Map
LocationTumbalá, Chiapas, Mexico
Coordinates17°15′21″N 92°06′57″W / 17.255704°N 92.115951°W / 17.255704; -92.115951
Number of dropsVarious
Longest drop6 m (20 ft)
WatercourseAgua Azul riverRío ShumulaRío TulijáRío ChilapaRío Grijalva[1]

These waterfalls consists of many cataracts following one after another, taken from near the top of the sequence of cascades. The larger cataracts may be as high as 6 meters (20 feet) or so. During much of the distance the water descends in two streams, with small islands in the middle.

The water has a high content of calcium carbonate and other minerals, and where it falls on rocks or fallen trees, it encases them in a thick shell-like coating of limestone.[2]

The area was designated a flora and fauna protection area in 2000 by the Mexican government. The protected area covers 25.8 km2.[3]

Local residents reportedly restored the waterfalls[4] after the 2017 Chiapas earthquake has created a crack and led to a temporary reduction of the water flow over the falls.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ WorldTopTop.com. "Cascadas de Agua Azul – Top Waterfalls in the World". BBC. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  3. ^ UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Cascada de Agua Azul from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 29 September 2021. [1]
  4. ^ BBC (November 17, 2017). "Mexico waterfall: Agua Azul cascades return to quake-hit river". BBC. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  5. ^ Ruptly (November 13, 2017). "Chasing waterfalls! Mystery abounds after Agua Azul falls dry up". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved Nov 14, 2017.
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