Palenque (;
Yucatec Maya:
Bàak' ), also anciently known as
Lakamha (literally: "Big Water"), was a
Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century. The Palenque ruins date from ca. 226 BC to ca. AD 799. After its decline, it was absorbed into the
jungle of cedar, mahogany, and sapodilla trees, but has since been excavated and restored and is now a famous archaeological site attracting thousands of visitors. It is located near the
Usumacinta River in the
Mexican state of
Chiapas, about 130 km (81 mi) south of
Ciudad del Carmen, 150 m (164 yd) above sea level. It averages a humid 26°C (79°F) with roughly 2160 mm (85 in) of rain a year.