CubaPLUS Magazine

Located in the Marine Terraces of Cabo Cruz, in eastern Cuba, the Hoyo de Morlotte is a geographical accident without equal and of great beauty, included since December 1, 1999 in the select list of Natural Heritage Sites of Humanity, prepared by Unesco.

Such location puts it in the most southern and western part of the province of Granma, in the historic Niquero municipality and within the contours of the Desembarco del Granma National Park. This important world-class chasm seems due to its mouth -with a diameter of 55 meters- to be an unexpected and inexplicable crater to the profane eyes.

However, due to its 78-meter depth, it produces the dizziness of an abyss, at the bottom of which there is barely a small mirror of water, inhabited by native fauna, rocky vegetation and very hard carbonated sediments. There are photographs that reveal this site as a beautiful natural place discovered in 1938 by a French aviator named Morlotte, whose full name I searched in vain, in a cursory way.

The Morlotte Hole is truly exceptional among carsic formations of its type in Cuba, since it is the only one that is not totally occupied by water. The set of sedimented and not very old rocks in the crater give a sensation of fragility and imminent danger of falling, while those that are distributed at the bottom of the abyss appear more compact. Going down there is only possible for experts.

In addition to the small pond, in the background there is vegetation and not inconsiderable fauna. Animal species include the cotunto siju, a relative of owls, the cave swallow, and also crabs, fish and shrimp live in the water. Regarding the environment, we emphasize that the Cabo Cruz Terraces are the best preserved in America and its imposing stone steps, carved by erosion and time, suggest to some the hand of a superior intelligence or a mythical age of giants, which adds that legendary touch that adds charm and mystery to excursions through the most rugged Cuban geography.

It is an area close to the Cape Cruz Lighthouse, where there are also scientific stations that contribute to national studies on telluric movements and meteorology and near the simple but charming fishing village of the same name, where valuable marine species abound such as the Cuban green turtle, protected by law.