18 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



drains a large area of swamp and jungle in which are 

 buried some of the most wonderful ruined cities of the 

 New World. 



In the northern part of Yucatan there are no rivers 

 on the surface on account of the porous limestone. 

 Instead there are great natural wells called cenotes 

 where the roofs of subterranean rivers have fallen in. 

 Many of the ancient cities were built near such natural 

 wells. 



Passing to the south the most important river of 

 Guatemala is the Motagua, which has cut a fine valley 

 through a region of lofty mountains. In Honduras there 

 are several large rivers, including the Uloa, Patuca, 

 and Segovia. The lake region of Nicaragua is drained 

 by the San Juan River that flows into the Caribbean 

 Sea. Nearly all the streams of Central America that 

 flow into the Pacific are short and steep torrents. An 

 important exception is the Lempa River that forms 

 part of the interior boundary of Salvador. 



Concerning lakes, mention has already been made of 

 Chapala and Tezcoco, the most important in Mexico. 

 The former is about fifty miles in length. In the state 

 of Michoacan there are a number of beautiful lakes 

 intimately connected with the history and mythology of 

 the Tarascan Indians. The most famous is called 

 Patzcuaro. In southern Yucatan the shallow body of 

 water known as Lake Peten also has a distinct historical 

 interest. Several lakes in Guatemala are well known 

 on account of the rare beauty of their situation. Lake 

 Atitlan is surrounded by lofty mountains, and Lake 

 Izabal, or Golfo Dulce, is famous for the luxuriance of 

 the vegetation that screens its banks. Lakes Nica- 

 ragua and Managua are well known on account of their 

 connection with the much-discussed canal projects. 



