Which peninsula contains many northern Maya lowland sites, including Uxmal and Chichen Itza?

The peninsula containing many northern Maya lowland sites, including Uxmal and Chichen Itza, is the Yucatan Peninsula. It occupies much of southeastern Mexico and extends into parts of Belize and Guatemala, forming one of the best-known landscapes of Maya history.

The peninsula is largely low, flat, and made of porous limestone. Because rivers are scarce on the surface, ancient communities often depended on underground water and natural sinkholes called cenotes. These water sources could be practical, sacred, or both, helping shape where major settlements developed.

Uxmal lies in the Puuc region of western Yucatan, while Chichen Itza is farther east. Both became major centers of northern Maya civilization, although they flourished at different times and reflected changing political and cultural connections. Other important sites on the peninsula include Coba, Tulum, Mayapan, and Ek Balam.

The phrase “Yucatan Peninsula” should not be confused with the modern Mexican state of Yucatan. The peninsula includes that state as well as Campeche and Quintana Roo, and its Maya heritage extends beyond modern political borders. It also represents only the northern part of the broader Maya world, which reaches into Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Chiapas.