Laguna El Pino
Encyclopedia
El Pino Lake is a lake
in Guatemala
. It is located 30 km south-southeast of Guatemala City
, in the municipality of Barberena
in the Santa Rosa Department
. The lake has a surface area of 0.72 km² and a maximum depth of 18 m. The lake waters are used for subsistence fishing, sport fishing, and swimming.
Vegetation consists mainly of floating beds of Water Hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes
) , submergent beds of Waterweed (Elodea canadensis), and marshy areas with Spikerushes (Eleocharis elegans
) and Giant Bulrush (Scirpus californicus). The lake shores have some wooded areas with Casuarina
species, Cupressus lusitanica
, Inga xalapensis and Pinus species. The surrounding area has coffee plantations.
Species of waterfowl breeding in the lake area include Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus), American Coot (Fulica americana) and Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa).
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is located 30 km south-southeast of Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, in the municipality of Barberena
Barberena
Barberena is a municipality in Santa Rosa department of Guatemala. Filled with local vendors and stores selling American goods, Barberena is a small town typical of the Guatemalan countryside....
in the Santa Rosa Department
Santa Rosa Department
Santa Rosa Department may refer to:*Argentina**Santa Rosa Department, Catamarca**Santa Rosa Department, Mendoza*Guatemala**Santa Rosa Department, Guatemala...
. The lake has a surface area of 0.72 km² and a maximum depth of 18 m. The lake waters are used for subsistence fishing, sport fishing, and swimming.
Laguna El Pino National Park
In 1955 the lake, and a minor part of the lake shores, were designated a national park. The park, including the lake, covers an area of 0.73 km² and is managed by the National Forestry Institute (INAB) in conjunction with representatives of the local population. 20% of the lake shores are government property and 80% is privately owned.Vegetation consists mainly of floating beds of Water Hyacinth
Water hyacinth
The seven species of water hyacinth comprise the genus Eichhornia. Water hyacinth are a free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, water hyacinth may rise above the surface of the water as much as 1 meter in...
(Eichhornia crassipes
Eichhornia crassipes
Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as Common Water Hyacinth, is an aquatic plant native to the Amazon basin, and is often considered a highly problematic invasive species outside its native range.-Ecology:...
) , submergent beds of Waterweed (Elodea canadensis), and marshy areas with Spikerushes (Eleocharis elegans
Eleocharis
Eleocharis is a genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. They are known commonly as spikerushes, although spikesedges is a more technically appropriate name and most scientists who study them in earnest refer to them as such...
) and Giant Bulrush (Scirpus californicus). The lake shores have some wooded areas with Casuarina
Casuarina
Casuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australasia, southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It was once treated as the sole genus in the family, but has been split into three genera .They are evergreen shrubs and trees growing to 35 m tall...
species, Cupressus lusitanica
Cupressus lusitanica
Cupressus lusitanica, ; Cedro Blanco means White Cedar and is also known as Mexican White Cedar, is a species of cypress native to Mexico and Central America...
, Inga xalapensis and Pinus species. The surrounding area has coffee plantations.
Species of waterfowl breeding in the lake area include Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus), American Coot (Fulica americana) and Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa).