Lake Amatitlán
Encyclopedia
Lake Amatitlán is a volcanic lake in south-central Guatemala
, fairly close to Guatemala City. It lies in the central highlands, 1,186 m (3890 feet) above sea level. Its maximum depth is 33 m (108 feet) and an average of 18 m (59 feet). The lake is 11 km (7 miles) long and 3 km (2 miles) wide; with an area of 15.2 square kilometres (5.9 sq mi) and a water volume of 0.286 cubic kilometers.
The lake's primary inflow is the Villalobos River, and the lake is drained by the Michatoya River
, an important tributary of the María Linda River
. The town of Amatitlán
is situated at the head of the Michatoya river. A dam with a railway on top was constructed at the narrowest point, thus effectively dividing the lake into two water bodies with different physical, chemical and biological characteristics: a north-western and a south-eastern basin.
The lake is used as a water source, for navigation and transportation, sightseeing and tourism (10,000 visitors annually), recreation (swimming, sport-fishing, water skiing, yachting) and fisheries.
. Each year large quantities of untreated sewage, industrial waste and a staggering 500,000 tons of sediment
are carried into the lake through the Villalobos River. This has contributed to high levels of pollution
of the lake's water, and an accelerated eutrophication
and siltation
. This has seriously affected the lake's former function as a source of drinking water and irrigation, and reduced its recreational functions.
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...
, fairly close to Guatemala City. It lies in the central highlands, 1,186 m (3890 feet) above sea level. Its maximum depth is 33 m (108 feet) and an average of 18 m (59 feet). The lake is 11 km (7 miles) long and 3 km (2 miles) wide; with an area of 15.2 square kilometres (5.9 sq mi) and a water volume of 0.286 cubic kilometers.
The lake's primary inflow is the Villalobos River, and the lake is drained by the Michatoya River
Michatoya River
The Michatoya River is a river in Guatemala. It begins in the town of Amatitlán, flowing out from the lake of the same name, through the towns of Palín, Masagua, and out into the Pacific Ocean. It has served as one of the principal sources of electricity for Guatemala City...
, an important tributary of the María Linda River
María Linda River
The Río María Linda is a river in southwest Guatemala. Its sources are located south of Lake Amatitlán in the department of Guatemala. It flows southwards through the coastal lowlands of Escuintla and Santa Rosa to the Pacific Ocean....
. The town of Amatitlán
Amatitlán
Amatitlán is a town in the Guatemala department of Guatemala. The main industry of the town during colonial times was the preparation of cochineal...
is situated at the head of the Michatoya river. A dam with a railway on top was constructed at the narrowest point, thus effectively dividing the lake into two water bodies with different physical, chemical and biological characteristics: a north-western and a south-eastern basin.
The lake is used as a water source, for navigation and transportation, sightseeing and tourism (10,000 visitors annually), recreation (swimming, sport-fishing, water skiing, yachting) and fisheries.
Pollution
Amatitlán lake's catchment area includes Guatemala CityGuatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
. Each year large quantities of untreated sewage, industrial waste and a staggering 500,000 tons of sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
are carried into the lake through the Villalobos River. This has contributed to high levels of pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
of the lake's water, and an accelerated eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
and siltation
Siltation
Siltation is the pollution of water by fine particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments, and to the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable...
. This has seriously affected the lake's former function as a source of drinking water and irrigation, and reduced its recreational functions.