Montezuma Castle National Monument, located in central Arizona’s Verde Valley, preserves two remarkable Sinagua archaeological sites, most notably Montezuma Castle, a five-story cliff dwelling built into a limestone overhand, and Montezuma Well, a unique limestone sinkhole with a constant water supply. The monument is 826 acres. 

The Sinagua people inhabited the area from roughly 1100 to 1425 CE. At Montezuma Castle, they constructed multi-room homes high above Beaver Creek, likely for protection from flooding and to take advantage of natural insulation. Montezuma Well was a vital regional water source. and its spring-fed waters supported extensive irrigation canals that carried water to nearby agricultural fields.

The natural environment of both units is unusually rich for the desert Southwest because of its close proximity to Beaver Creek. The creek and well support lush riparian vegetation, including cottonwood, willow, and sycamore, which are surrounded by upland desert species such as juniper, prickly pear, and mesquite. Wildlife includes river otters, bats, reptiles, and numerous bird species attracted to reliable water. The well contains organisms found nowhere else in the world which have evolved in response to the unique mineralization of the water.

To learn more, visit the monument's website.