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Unbelievable as it may seem, the Americas has more pyramids than any other place in the world. 

In January, I visited the ancient city of Teotihuacán, which is 30 miles away from Mexico City. It had been about 20 years since I last visited these relics, and I recently came across an article that this area is said to be built by aliens because no one knew who made this town. I paid for a tour to get a better idea of the history of this place. The guides in Mexico are required to pass a state license (renew each year) in an effort not to give false information. 

The theory that aliens built the ancient city of Teotihuacán seems more feasible than the genius of ancient civilizations, but one fact remains: Teotihuacán continues to be a mystery. 

Our guide informed us that the Aztecs came across these ancient abandoned pyramids while looking to settle in Mexico City. The Aztecs believed it where the gods once lived and named it: “The place where gods were born (Teotihuacán).” To this day, there are theories of who these people might be and why they left but no definite answers. Our guide informed us that one reason they left the area was it became too hot and arid to produce food. 

Teotihuacán was one of the most affluent cities in Mesoamerica, which had a population of 100,000 to 200,000, between 100 B.C. and A.D. 650. The size of the area and different indigenous artifacts suggests that this was a cosmopolitan area where people traveled to trade. The temples’ artwork has diversity in the indigenous culture of the Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec.

The most massive structure is the Pyramid of the Sun, and it is the third biggest pyramid in the world. The Pyramid of the Moon is the second sizable building in this municipality. Both temples are on opposites sides of the Avenue of the Dead, which is the main road⸺ it has smaller structures that resemble tombs, and the platforms produce an echo effect to amplify sound during ceremonial events. 

The Cuidadela(or citadel) was a 38-acre courtyard where citizens lived, and in the middle was a six-step pyramid named The Feathered Serpent Pyramid. 

This ancient complex still has secrets yet to uncover. Archaeologists believe there are tombs hidden inside the pyramids. Heavy rainfall caused a sinkhole that uncovered hidden tunnels.Today, this is one of the rare monuments that people can climb, and approximately four million people visit this site each year.