Yesterdays exploration included Montezuma Castle and Well. The name came from a group of early settlers that thought the origin of the magnificent structure to be Aztec, but Montezuma was never in the area. The 5 story, 20 room dwelling sits 100 feet above the valley floor. The inhabitants used ladders to climb to the rooms. Sinagua indians lived in the local pueblos around 1100AD. Just a short drive down the road we found a sink hole formed long ago by the collapse of an underground cavern. Montezuma well is spring fed by 4 springs 56 feet below the surface that deposit 1.5 million gallons everyday of 74 degree water. The water exits the well through a cave 300 feet long, emerging in an area where the native Sinagua's created irrigation ditches to the valley floor where they grew crops. There are several small pueblos in and around the well if you look close at the picture.
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