RAC

Structure 2 is probably the biggest in the Yucatan, but certainly not the largest Mayan structure (El Mirador wears that crown).

Many, if not most, Mayan pyramids of any size involve building on top of previous pyramids.

Rohelio

I think I've got it... Coba holds the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan because it measures 130 feet high, NOT 130 steps high.
The Calakmul has 148 steps. As we all know, the steps vary in size and shape and would be (IMO) about 8 to 10 inches in height. So if you multiply 148 steps X 10 inches you will get 1480 inches then you divide by 12 and you get 123 feet.
NOW, to add to this virtual conversation... the LARGEST pyramid in the Yucatan peninsula is said to be in Izamal (which I have seen). Nothing outrageous but it does go on for several blocks and this is right in the city. As I have mentioned in the upper part of this blog, Izamal is well worth seeing, not so much for the pyramid but mostly for the city itself which is all painted in a yellow gold color so as to impress the Pope on his visit to Izamal sveral decades ago.
I also want to thank everyone for their contribution on this blog... making it fun and educational !!!

kja

I, too, am intrigued by these questions about the relative sizes of Mayan pyramids! I was out-of-time for a bit, and have only now been able to consult my sources. So, without saying which is correct, I present the following information:

From the Moon Guide: Calakmul's Structure II "[rises] 53 meters (174 feet) over a … five-acre footprint. I’ts the largest Maya pyramid yet discovered, and the highest in the Yucatan peninsula.” this stake guidebook states that Coba's “Nohoch Mul (aka Ixmoja) rises 42 meters (139 feet) above the forest floor… It was long touted as the hightest structure in the Yucatan, until the main pyramid at Calakmul in Campeche was found to be higher – and by a good 12 meters (38.4 feet).” It also states that Izamal's "Kinish Kak Moo is … the largest pyramid in the state of Yucatan, and the third- to –fifth-largest in Mexico, depending on how you define ‘large.’”

The Lonely Planet agrees that Calakmul's Structure II is taller than Coba's highest pyramid: "Nohoch Mul reaches a height of 42 m, making it the second-tallest Maya structure on the Yucatan Peninsula. Calakmul’s Estructura II, at 45 m, is the tallest.” Re: the Izamal pyramids, the Lonely Planet states: "The largest (and the 3rd largest in Yucatan) is the enormous Kinish-Kakmo…."

Just about every source I've found gives the height of Coba's tallest pyramid at about 42 meters. The sources I've found give the height of Calakmul's Structure II as anything fro 45 meters to 55 meters. Here are a couple of examples:
http://mayanruins.info/mexico/calakmul-mexico/
http://archaeology.about.com/od/maya...calakmul_3.htm

I haven't seen any source refer to the number of steps on Calakmul's Structure II.

Rohelio

Looks like you've done your homework kja...well done !