Mexico Mayan site fears becoming victim of success

CHICHEN ITZA, Mexico, May 25 (Reuters) Mexico's most famous Mayan ruins, at Chichen Itza, could become a victim of their own success if they are named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a global competition.

Archeologists believe the pyramid site in southeastern Mexico would be hit by an avalanche of additional visitors if it wins the contest and that the extra wear and tear could force authorities to limit the tourist traffic.

Chichen Itza, arguably the greatest of all Mayan temples, is now in second place in the competition (www.new7wonders.com) to select the world's new breathtaking structures in a more modern version of the ancient wonders.

The site's directors are proud that Chichen Itza is a front-runner among the 20 places in the vote -- including the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, Stonehenge and the Sydney Opera House - but worry about what success might bring.

''This is going to generate a big influx,'' Chichen Itza director Eduardo Perez de Heredia said. ''It is going to oblige us to implement restrictions because there is a limit of 1.5 million visitors per year which cannot be passed.'' Chichen Itza, whose main attraction is the El Castillo pyramid, was home to a civilization from about the year 600 to the 1500s, when Spanish conquistadors landed in Mexico.

Every year, around 1.2 million people visit the site, which is set around low-lying jungle. Many make the trek from the Caribbean beach resort of Cancun, popular with North American and European tourists and two hours away by car.

Archeologists have just finished a two-year restoration of El Castillo, including work on the so-called Jaguar chamber which has a statue of a red-colored jaguar encrusted with jade stones and has yet to be opened to the public.

Archeologists want to promote other Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula, like the pyramids at Uxmal and Coba.

''In the Yucatan there are also other marvelous sites,'' said Claudia Garcia Solis, who headed the recent restoration project. ''We don't want people's Mayan knowledge to be limited to Chichen.'' The public can vote for their favorite New Seven Wonders of the World sites via email or phone. The winners will be announced on July 7 in Lisbon.

The ancient Greeks chose the original seven wonders but only one remains: the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

REUTERS SLD VV0849