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Cancún, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
8 Fun Facts about Cancún, Home to One of the World's Underwater Museums & 2nd Largest Barrier Reef on Earth
By
Milla Sigaba
Dec 11, 202306:07 A.M.
Cancún has become synonymous with clear blue waters and beautiful white beaches. However, the Mexican city is also rich in history and interesting facts. Read further for eight fun facts about Cancún.
Situated on the Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea, Cancún is widely known for its beaches, resorts, and tropical adventures. The Spanish city is also beloved for its rich history and culture.
However, besides being a dream destination for some relaxation under the sun, Cancún is also a gold mine for interesting facts, such as the history behind its name and being home to one of the few underwater museums in the world. Read further for 8 fun facts about Cancún.
A green sea turtle swimming in the blue waters of Cancún, Mexico. | Source: Getty Images
8 Fun Facts about Cancun
1. You can swim and snorkel with whale sharks in Cancún.
Cancún is not only home to beautiful beaches, but the Mexican city is also rich with diverse tropical wildlife, and experiences like swimming and snorkeling with whale sharks are sure to elevate your aquatic adventures in the beautiful city.
Between June and September every year, whale sharks migrate to the clear blue waters of Cancún, and with the guidance of trained professionals, you can experience this breathtaking moment of nature.
Cancún beach, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
2. Leisure travel was the dominant segment in Cancún in 2018.
In 2018, being one of the best tourist destinations for relaxation and leisure saw at least 80% of Cancún's travel spending come from leisure visitors, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The WTTC added that around half of Cancún's economy, alongside Macau, was directly supported by the leisure travel of visitors in the city.
A figure on the beach of Cancún, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
3. The Mexican government only created Cancún five decades ago.
Another intriguing aspect of Cancun's history is that in 1970, the Mexican government approved the Cancun Project and turned a formerly deserted peninsula into a thriving metropolis. Through the construction of residential areas, the tourism zone, and the international airport, Cancún was built to be what it is known as today.
4. Cancún is shaped like the number 7.
Cancún is located near the forgotten region of the Caribbean and is made up of multiple sand dunes that give the island the interesting shape of the number 7, visible from an aerial view of the Cancún Hotel Zone. These sand dunes are separated from the mainland by two narrow canals.
An aerial view of the Cancún Hotel Zone, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
5. Cancún is home to one of the world's few underwater museums — the Cancún Underwater Museum.
There are only a few underwater museums in the world, and Cancún is home to one of them. The Cancun Underwater Museum, also a conservation, opened in 2010 and has three different galleries submerged between three and six meters deep in the ocean.
The Cancun Underwater Museum houses a total of 500 sculptures from local and international figures and was created by marine park director Jaime Gonzalez Cano as a means to save the nearby coral reefs by providing an alternative destination for divers.
An underwater sculpture in Cancún, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
6. Cancún has had several different names over the years.
Before Cancún came to be known as Cancún, historical maps called it "Kankun," which means "pot of snakes" or "nest of snakes" in Maya. Documents also referred to the Mexican City as "Kan Kun"—two words—and occasionally, "Can Cún" in Spanish.
7. Most of Cancún's beaches are made up of tiny fragments of crushed coral.
Around 70% of Cancun's sandy beaches consist of tiny fragments of coral defecated by the Parrotfish, a sea creature that can produce 100 kg of white coral a year. Because of this, the sand is never too hot, no matter the temperature.
Cancún, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
8. Cancún is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world.
Cancún is also home to the Cancun -Riviera Maya, the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Years ago, BBC reported that the Cancún -Riviera Maya was only second to The Great Barrier Reef in the sea off the Australian coast.
More interestingly, Cancún houses The Blue Hole, a natural sinkhole 400 meters across and 120 meters deep, hence the color and the name of the natural sinkhole.
If you are interested in learning about different countries and places, then here are some fun facts about Bora Bora.
