Belize's 'Blue Hole' May Help Solve Mystery Of Maya Downfall

Scientists know all about the sophisticated calendars and writing system of the Maya, as well as their ritual sacrifices. But as for exactly what caused the the ancient civilization to collapse around 900 A.D., that's long been a bit of a mystery.



Now a team of researchers from Rice University and Louisiana State University think they may be one step closer to cracking the mystery, thanks in part to evidence from the "Great Blue Hole." The massive sinkhole located in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize was made popular by pioneering conservationist Jacques Cousteau, who visited it in 1971 and declared it one of the world's best scuba diving sites.



The researchers analyzed sediment samples from the Blue Hole, looking specifically at variations in color, grain size, and layer thickness. They also examined samples from the Belize Central Shelf Lagoon, a body of water attached to the mainland, noting differences in the samples' ratio of titanium to aluminum, which helps provide an estimate for rainfall levels.



The analyses revealed low levels of precipitation and a drop in the frequency of tropical cyclones from 800 to 900 A.D. in the Yucatan peninsula--which suggests the region was hit by a major drought at the time, the researchers told The Huffington Post in an email.



The research also suggested that another major drought hit the region between 1000 and 1100 A.D., around when the Maya city of Chichen Itza is believed to have fallen.



"When you have major droughts, you start to get famines and unrest," study co-author Dr. André Droxler, an earth scientist at Rice, told Live Science.



The research on the lagoon was presented on Dec. 16 at the American Geophysical Union's 2014 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, and the study on the Blue Hole samples was published Jan. 2014 in the journal Scientific Reports.



The research builds upon previous studies suggesting climate change precipitated the Mayas' downfall. A 2012 study of a stalagmite from a cave in Belize linked the region's population collapse to a "drying trend" between 600 and 1000 A.D.



The first Maya settlements were established in 1800 B.C. The civilization hit its peak around 250 A.D., reaching a population of about 2,000,000.



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'A Trip To The Continent' Maps Tourism Industry Of 1900 England

Maps are typically perceived as practical, neutral objects -- the road map in the glove compartment of your car is a faithful representation of the terrain through which you’re traveling, not a political or artistic statement. Well, of course it’s not that simple; for one thing, the earth is not as flat as the pages of a map, so maps must be distorted to some degree. Choices must be made about which towns and cities will be put on the map, where to draw certain borders. To some extent, nearly every map contains an agenda, whether political, sociological, or commercial.



A recent book by Tim Bryars and Tom Harper, A History of the 20th Century in 100 Maps , charts the political and social upheavals of the last century by means of maps, digging below the functional surface to reveal how maps of the time reflected popular ideas, prejudices, and waves of progress. The 20th century, the authors explain, was a particularly fertile time for mapmakers, and the book showcases maps in the form of picture postcards, board games, and book endpapers, maps meant for government purposes and maps intended for mass consumption. The highly eclectic result serves in itself as a reminder of the myriad ways in which we see and interpret the world around us.



The map excerpted below, a 1900 board game entitled A Trip to the Continent, may only seem like a map in the loosest sense, but its depiction of the geography and travel routes between England and Continental Europe offers a telling glimpse into its era. Though no rulebook is available, players would presumably race from London to Berlin, choosing from three available routes and likely using dice or a spinner to determine their progress. The game seems painfully simple, but the layout is fascinating. As the authors note, “A decade later a ‘race to Berlin’ would have carried entirely different connotations, but in the years leading up to the Great War, Germany was one of the top tourist destinations.” The concept of continental travel as a popular pastime also bespeaks the increasing ease of international travel around the turn of the 20th century, the authors point out: “Travel would never again be the preserve of a monied elite … Some Britons were already seeking out unspoiled corners where they wouldn’t hear another English voice, especially a ‘cockney’ or lower-class one.” Sound familiar?



Here's the full board game, excerpted with permission from A History of the Twentieth Century in 100 Maps; for more about the game and 99 other fascinating maps from the previous century, consult the full book:







Reprinted with permission from A History of the Twentieth Century in 100 Maps by Tim Bryars and Tom Harper, published in the United States by the University of Chicago Press.



Text © 2014 by Tim Bryars and Tom Harper. Illustrations © 2014 by The British Library Board. All rights reserved.



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Best Travel Photos of 2014

Every day, we present a daily travel photo illustrating the beauty of the world. Here are our favourites from each month of 2014.



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Vanuatu: Isles of highs and lows

The hotel phone buzzed at 5:54 a.m. Roused from a deep sleep, 40-year-old Australian lawyer Veronica Riding groggily answered the phone.



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Rail bosses told to show passengers how to get cheapest tickets

Train companies are being forced to offer commuters the cheapest rail fares possible, following criticism that passengers can pay an excess of £100 when purchasing tickets at self-service machines instead of paying at a ticket counter.

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7 Ways To Travel Smarter In 2015

We've always loved a good travel hack, whether it's the secret to a smaller suitcase or the trick that gets cheaper plane tickets every time.



We asked the pros at CheapAir -- and sifted through our favorite hacks -- for 7 tricks that will make 2015 the year you FINALLY get out there, and on a trip that goes smoothly, too.



1. Start flying in the morning.

It's science: the later in the day you fly, the longer the delay you might face, as bad weather and other issues create a domino effect throughout the day. Experts advise avoiding flights between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. to decrease your chances of getting stuck.



2. Get TSA Precheck.

CheapAir recommends signing up for TSA Precheck -- after an application, you'll whiz through security like a BOSS.



3. Pick a smart day to book.

Fifty-four days before your trip is the magic number, if we're being precise. And remember: it's never too early to start strategizing for the next holiday season.



4. Stop checking baggage.

You'll 1) avoid checked bag fees, 2) eliminate the chance of bags going missing and 3) have an excuse to invest in the best carry-on tote ever. CheapAir also points out that when flights are cancelled or delayed, airport staff may be more willing to help re-route passengers if they know they won't have to go to the trouble of re-routing checked bags. When you travel light, you're low-risk.



5. Pick up passengers in Departures, not Arrivals.

Meeting your air traveler at Departures instead of Arrivals almost always means less crowds, CheapAir points out. Plus, they say airport police are less likely to make you move while you're waiting at the Departures curb. Don't be afraid to take advantage of cell phone lots as low-stress places to wait, too.



6. Turn your phone into a travel agent.

With the right apps, your phone can nab same-day flights, teach you the local language and even identify the historic spot you're standing in. And when flight delays strike, CheapAir recommends hopping on the phone while waiting in line at the airport check-in desk to double your chances of finding a remedy.



7. Finally set those price alerts.

Sites like Airefarewatchdog and Hopper keep you posted when prices dip on the routes you're looking to fly. Start the new year off right by setting alerts for all your dream trips, and watch 2015 be the year you take the trip of a lifetime.



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10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S.

If you've ever brought a young child to an art museum, then you're all too familiar with the high-stakes anxiety involved (like keeping them from touching that prized Monet or from bumping into an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus). We propose saving The Met for just a few more years, and taking your brood instead to a family-friendly children’s museum, where just about everything is meant to be touched. The concept of “hands-on learning” in a museum was introduced by the Boston Children’s Museum back in 1913, and today’s children’s museums deftly balance play with educational opportunities. Whether your kids are inspired by reptiles, outer space, skyscrapers, or puzzles, our favorite children’s museums offer plenty of ways to engage young minds.

By Christina Valhouli

Christina Valhouli writes about travel, beauty, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the New York Post, and Departures.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cvalhouli.

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