Saturday, July 18, 2009

3. Well Outlet of the Montezuma Well Monument 34°22'30.36"N,111°28'23.52"W


Our third stop on the Places of interest in the Verde Valley of Arizona is on the back side of Montezuma Well. In order to get to the Montezuma Well Outlet we go around the hill at the top of the well and down under and around the cliff area. There are stone steps leading down into the well outlet. This area of the well is very special. The temperature immediately becomes cooler. Sycamore and Ash trees line the irrigation ditch and give plenty of shade to the area.Wet Beaver Creek runs adjacent to the irrigation ditch on the right as you are going down the steps.. This is the location of the original irrigation ditch put in place by the ancient Sinagua.It is believed that they were shown this technology by the ancient Hohokam It is still in place at the outlet of the well. The water flows under the giant limestone wall where it is continues down the irrigation ditch that flows through the park. Park visitors can rest on the rock platform or put their feet into the irrigation ditch and cool off. Usually a park volunteer is on hand to give the history of the area and the park. A giant Sycamore tree also graces the area that has been dated from photographs to about 200 hundred years old. The National Park Service maintains the irrigation ditch today in the park trying to maintain the integrity created hundreds of years ago.

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