Editing Tulum (section)

=== Tulum's wall ===
[[File:Majanski grad Tulum.jpg|thumb|Pyramid El Castillo (The Castle), 2022]]
[[File:Castillo Windows.JPG|thumb|Windows in El Castillo's sea-facing wall]]

Tulum was protected on one side by steep sea cliffs and on the landward side by a wall that averaged about {{convert|3|-|5|m|ft|0|sp=us}} in height. The wall also was about {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} thick and {{convert|400|m|ft|abbr=on}} long on the side parallel to the sea. The part of the wall that ran the width of the site was slightly shorter and only about {{convert|170|m|ft|sp=us}} on both sides. Constructing this massive wall would have taken an enormous amount of energy and time, which shows how important defense was to the Maya when they chose this site. On the southwest and northwest corners there are small structures that have been identified as watch towers, showing again how well defended the city was. There are five narrow gateways in the wall with two each on the north and south sides and one on the west. The seaward side is protected by the steep cliffs, except for one small cove with a sandy beach. It was in this small cove where the canoes would return from trading and fishing. Near the northern side of the wall a small [[cenote]] provided the city with fresh water. It is this impressive wall that makes Tulum one of the most well-known fortified sites of the Maya.<ref name="Fort">"Lowland Maya Fortifications", David Webster, ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'', Vol. 120, No. 5 (Oct. 15, 1976), pp. 361–371, Published by: [[American Philosophical Society]]</ref>