| Lake Amatitlán | |
|---|---|
| The lake under Pacaya volcano (in background right) |
|
| Location | south-central Guatemala |
| Primary inflows | Villalobos River |
| Primary outflows | Michatoya River |
| Catchment area | 368 km2 (100 sq mi)[1] |
| Basin countries | Guatemala |
| Max. length | 11 km (6.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
| Surface area | 15.2 km2 (5.9 sq mi)[1] |
| Max. depth | 33 m (108.3 ft)[1] |
| Water volume | 0.286 km3 (0.1 cu mi)[1] |
| Surface elevation | 1,188 m (3,897.6 ft)[1] |
| Frozen | Never[1] |
| Settlements | Amatitlán, Villa Canales, Villa Nueva |
| References | [1] |
Lake Amatitlán (Lago de 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.[2] 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 kilometers (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.
Contents |
Amatitlán lake's catchment area includes Guatemala City. 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.[3] This has contributed to high levels of pollution of the lake's water, and an accelerated eutrophication and siltation.[1][4] This has seriously affected the lake's former function as a source of drinking water and irrigation, and reduced its recreational functions.