Lake Poopó – Oruro

Lake Poopó – Oruro

The Poopo lake basin, flat feature, is located at 3.686 meters above sea level with a mirror in high water up to 310 KM2. It is the second lake in Bolivia. He 2003 It was recognized as a RAMSAR Site for the quality of the ecosystem it has for the preservation of the biodiversity of high Andean fauna..

The Poopo is a lake that moves according to the volume of water it captures, during the rainy period and depending on the contributions from the Desaguadero and Márquez rivers. It is easily accessed through the town of Huari (East bank of the lake). Poopo Lake, has an impact on agricultural activities, livestock and fishing of the Poopo towns, Pazña, Hallway. It presents a wonderful landscape in which the Andean flamingos stand out, wild ducks, Parihuanas, others.

News updated on 14/12/2015

Considered the second largest lake in Bolivia, after Titicaca, the Poopó practically disappeared. Which once housed a variety of flora and fauna, one of a kind, Today it is dry and around it there are thousands of fish and other dead animals.

This was confirmed by the Oruro newspaper La Patria, who on Friday paid a visit to Lake Poopó, located in the canton of Untavi in ​​the municipality of Toledo in the department of Oruro.

the lake, which a few years ago was a source of economic income for several fishing families in the region, ended up drying. Currently there is only an immense saline desert in the place.

“Lake Poopó had the following dimensions: 84 kilometers long, by 55 wide, which is equivalent to a surface of 4.620 square kilometers and from the air you can now see a mirror of water reduced to a minimum, "That looks like just a puddle in the middle of miles and miles of desert land.", points out La Patria.

He adds that the Untavi community, which used to be a town with quite a bit of activity, due to the fish wealth that existed, Today it became a silent population with a minimum percentage of community members.

TESTIMONIALS According to the Oruro morning newspaper, some residents passing through the central square, upon noticing the presence of visitors, They began to relate the sad situation they are experiencing, since the environmental disaster that occurred in November 2014, when millions of fish died, Lake Poopó no longer housed aquatic species.

This motivated most families to migrate to other towns and some even preferred to go and seek better luck in neighboring countries., like Chile. While, those who stayed work in cattle raising, although in the sector there is a minimum amount.

The panorama is desolate. Wherever the shore of the lake was, some boats can still be seen., somewhat sun-dried. There are also remains of dead fish and birds., product of the disaster that occurred in November of last year.

The original authority of Untavi, Valerio Rojas, He stated that it is incredible to believe that the lake completely dried up in just under two months., because until September there were still sheets of water.

He stated that the lake was turned into a huge desert where there is not even the possibility of growing food., nor raise animals, only the clay can be rescued from the place.

ALERT He mentioned that the departmental and environmental authorities were alerted, regarding the situation of the lake, “but they didn't pay attention”.

Dredging of the left arm of the Desaguadero River was requested so that the lake is fed, but unfortunately no task was carried out. “Hopes are low for the lake to return, because we believe it will never be the same again, That's why apparently the only thing left to do is migrate in search of sources of employment.”, added.

He explained that due to the geographical characteristics of Lake Poopó, the water surface tends to decrease at a certain time and fill completely after 50 years, but he emphasized that he never looked completely dry like now.

EDITORIAL-LA PATRIA ELPAIS@OPINION.COM.BO
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