The Xocomil, the Wind That Carries Away Sin
On one of the world's most beautiful lakes, a calm morning turns into a sudden, wild afternoon wind, which the Maya call the wind that carries away sin.
What was reported
Lake Atitlán, in the Guatemalan highlands, lies in a huge volcanic crater surrounded by volcanoes and Maya villages. Most mornings, it's calm and glassy. But around midday or in the afternoon, a strong wind called the Xocomil often sweeps across it, raising high, choppy waves that make crossing in small boats dangerous.
Its name is often translated from Kaqchikel Maya as 'the wind that carries away sin', and stories link it to spirits of the lake and to those who have drowned in it.
Explanations offered
The wind is caused by warm air rising from the land during the day and cooler air rushing in over the lake to replace it, funnelled by the surrounding mountains. Boat services usually run in the mornings to avoid it.
- When
- Blows most afternoons
- Where
- Lake Atitlán, Sololá, Guatemala
- Witnesses
- Fishermen and boatmen of the lake
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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