Montezuma's Castle and Well

[Sparkle]

Can you see the house above the golden tree?


There it is.


Going down these steps was fine. Coming up....?


The water, 76 degrees winter and summer flows in through cracks at the bottom of the well. For over 1000 years it has been constant. The water flows out through rock at exactly the same rate as it flows in. The Sinaqua Indians cut a channel with stone tools 3ft deep and over a mile long to irrigate their crops. the water is still used today. This was done from 975 to 1200AD

[Carolinagal]

Sparkle, I am so glad you got your pictures on photo bucket and out to us. They are so interesting, this is the kind of place I love traveling to see. I would make it down the steps fine too, but a big question mark as to how well I would do going up It sure would be worth the effort though. Thanks so much for the pics, you did a really good job and Yes, I did see the house above the yellow bush.

Carol

[Liz]

Amazing place and great photos! Did those steps lead up to the house on the cliff?

[Sparkle]

No, the steps go down to the bottom of the well where the water flows out underground. Then you go back up the steps and down another path to The Outlet where the water flows out again. I'd love to go back there when there isn't a busload of kids around. It was a magical place.

[SeeyaGal]

Loved the photo's! We went there back in 1999 I think, I remember we had the 5th wheel then. Interesting place for sure.

[Mollysmom]

Great pictures !
I love how the water has been the same for so long - just amazing !
Thanks for the pictures

[Cedar518]

Oh,... I love those pictures,... if those walls could only talk!

[avalen]

ohhhhh Sparkle, thank you so much for those pictures, I always wanted to go there
but some idiot here in town told me not to bother that the well was dry. Guess he
was wrong, now I want to go there! cause it looks really neat, and definately NOT
a dried up well.

[Bethers]

Wow!

[snowball]

really good pictures Sparkles!!
Enjoyed them.
Thanks sheila

[Nasoosie]

GREAT pics, Sparkle! You are really seeing some amazing things out there! I am wondering if the temperature of the water in that pond stays at a constant temperature all year, too? Or does the exposure cause it to fluctuate? The well is amazing! And the fact that so much work went into accessing that well water to use it is a testimony to the intelligence of mankind!

Thanks so much for posting these pictures. Another spot for me to make a note of that I wish to visit some day!

[Sparkle]

The water that comes into the well from the bottom is already warmed by ...what? the heat from the interior of the earth? Hmmm, don't know. Anyway, they have had divers go in and there is no evidence that the water level has ever changed. What amazes me is the balance between intake and outflow! That's a natural phenomenen. Also, there was a timeline in the museum. While the Sinagua Indians were hacking out that channel with stone tools those magnificant catherdrals were being built in Europe. And just think, we are space travelers, albeit somewhat limited as yet, and there are still Stone Age tribes in the world.

[asirimarco]

Again great pictures - love that area and the blue sky and red mountains. Was there a fire near by? We flew down 40 yesterday and saw lots of smoke from the south.