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MEXICO - FEBRUARY 24: Last year, nearly 1.8 million visitors traveled to Mexico's ancient city of Teotihuacan, renowned for its enduring mysteries and historical significance. Located 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers a glimpse into the thriving Aztec civilization of the 14th to 16th centuries. Covering an area of about 30 square kilometers, the exact origins of Teotihuacan remain shrouded in mystery, though it is believed to have been influenced by various civilizations including the Toltec, Zapotec, and Maya. Thought to be North America's oldest metropolis dating back to around 800 BC, Teotihuacan's sudden abandonment by its inhabitants remains unexplained, with its name bestowed by the later Aztec settlers. Teotihuacan, meaning "the place where the gods were born" in the Aztec Nahuatl language, boasts iconic structures like the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, along with numerous secondary temples. Beneath the Temple of Quetzalcoatl lies a 103-meter-long tunnel containing seeds, animal bones, and pottery fragments, hinting at its possible ritual significance. Connected by the Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Sun, standing approximately 65 to 70 meters tall, ranks as the second-largest pyramid in the Americas. (Footage by Yasemin KalyoncuoÄŸlu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)