Hol Kin cartography

Hol Kin cartography

Hol Kin is a cenote located about 350 meters north-north-east of the cenote Xunaan Ha and connected to this on its up-stream over the classic circuit now fairly well known.

The section of the system, which takes the same name as its main entrance, extending towards the northwest for a linear distance of 1,4 km and includes 10.111 meters of underwater caves.

For had much satisfaction from this section during the exploration stage, I decided to make the maps in the hope that it will be useful for divers who want to visit this cave and, more important reason, to inform landowners, the local population and government agencies of this great hidden treasure, which is likely to be damaged due to rapid human settlement in the area.

The first step was to delineate the boundaries of the section, thereby isolating the rest of the system. The parameter that I used was the easiness of reaching a point of the cave entering from the cenote Hol Kin or from other access.

Then I decided the final size of the map, about 40 cm high and 75 cm wide and I printed on graph paper the horizontal projection of the guideline.

At this point it was to go over all the explored caves and mark the amplitude of the passages and details such as decorations, columns, breakdowns, floor-to-ceiling distances and the drawing of certain specific cross sections.

To do this job were required 20 dives for a total of 51 hours and 15 minutes.

The lateral borders and details have subsequently been reported in black ink on glossy paper in order to have a clearer picture without disturbing elements. Before the advent of graphic software, this would be the final support by which they would then et copies.

To me it was used to digitize the map using vectorial graphics software.

I scanned the job and working on overlapping layers have "rehearsed" on the computer monitor the border lines and details.

The work thus obtained can be reduced in size while maintaining high image clarity, or enlarged without the annoying pixel effect.

Covering the entire work I decided to change the orientation bringing to the north the top of the map; with this I changed the final dimensions but I could make room for the cross section views and other informations.

I was greatly helped by Jim Coke, explorer and experienced cartographer of both submersed and dry caves; his valuable advice led to a better result than I could have done alone.

The map received an Honorable Mention at the NSS Cartographic Salon 2011 and is available in the Quintana Roo Speleological Survey selling points.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________