History

Cañón del Sumidero antes de la construcción de la presa.

The Sumidero Canyon was the scene of historic battles between the Chiapas and Spaniards in the sixteenth century. This place is where the Chiapas Indians threw themselves, preferring to die than be enslaved, becoming a cultural symbol and identity for the State of Chiapas.

With its 25 km long and 800 meters high, this natural wonder is about 12 million years old, talking about its geological age, and holds true legends and stories that make up much of the history of Chiapas.

The Chiapas are those who face the Spanish conquistadors, first in 1524, led by Luis Marín and then in 1528 when Diego de Mazariegos thought the chiapas were defeated.

The battle of the Sumidero has great significance for the identity of Chiapas. Thus arose the legend of the slaughter of Indians, who were thrown from the top of Canyon to avoid slavery, etc., and marks the beginning of the Indian rebellions, which will recur in the history of Chiapas.

Cañón del Sumidero

At that time, the Sumidero Canyon did not meet the calm waters that are now navigable, since it was a paradise that had rapids, where the extreme heat of the day and low night temperatures make more difficult to access.

At the inside, without ceasing to be dangerous, waterfalls were 5 or 6 feet high, to say nothing of its richness in fauna and vegetation, snakes, iguanas, wild cats, monkeys, deer, skunks, anteaters, pumas and all kinds of birds.

Transformation

Presa Manuel Moreno Torres, (Chicoasén)

The build of Chicoasén Dam in 1980, prevented the abrupt change of the waters of the Grijalva River.

So, the villagers were able to admire the beauty that lies in these three walls that inspired the image of the canyon which was placed on the coat that came from Spain in 1535 and until 1928, when it becomes the State Coat of Chiapas as majestic setting of the epic story of Chiapas.

For a long time the wealth of the Grijalva River, which crossed the canyon, winding through the rocks, forming rapids and waterfalls that flow rates were impassable, and it was only in 1960 that a group of 8 Chiapas, self-called red handkerchiefs, successfully crossed despite the lack of technical abilities and equipment. The group was formed by Jorge Narvaez, Maximiliano Hernández, Eneas Cano, Salvador Hernández, Ramón Alvarado, Sara Castillejos Vazquez and Rodolfo.

However, tree-lined walls, which hold the secrets of the Canyon, have not been fully explored, and we know that still houses some Crocodiles, thousands of species of insects, some deer and spider monkeys.

In 1962, another group formed by the company Western River Expeditions, from United States, conducted the second and last trip through the canyon, as the Grijalva river level rose to reach 200 meters, when the hydroelectric plant in Chicoasen was built.

Since that time the Sumidero Canyon became navigable, today we can find at the pier in Chiapa de Corzo, different types of boats to admire the natural beauty unique in the world.