Laguna de Sayula

Laguna de Sayula
Location Jalisco, Sayula-Atotonilco river basin
Primary inflows Local rivers and springs
Primary outflows Natural evaporation
Basin countries Mexico
Average depth 2 m (6.6 ft)
Surface elevation 1,350 m (4,430 ft)
Designated February 2, 2004[1]

Laguna de Sayula ("Sayula Lake") is a lake located in the southern area of Jalisco, about 60 km from Guadalajara. It is located in the municipalities of Sayula, Zacoalco de Torres, Amacueca, Teocuitatlán de Corona, Atoyac and Techaluta de Montenegro.

The lake level has gradually been lowering since 1994 but it still supports a large variety of wildlife.

Physical environment

Laguna de Sayula.

Geographic location

Laguna de Sayula is found in the Zacoalco-Guzmán water system, right between the Tapalpa Mountains and the Mazamitla Mountains, in the central part of Southern Jalisco. The coordinates of its borders are:

It measures 168 km2 (65 sq mi) with a maximum width of 8.34 km (5.18 mi) and a minimum of 2 km (1.2 mi) and a maximum length of 31.17 km (19.37 mi) and an altitude of 1,350 m (4,430 ft) above sea level. The lake has two islands, called Isla Chica ("small island") and Isla Grande ("big island"), oval forms less than 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi). It has a coast approximately 90 km (56 mi) long and a depth of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in).

One finds the municipalities of Sayula, Amacueca, Techaluta de Montenegro, and Atoyac around the lake.

Hydrography of the lake

Laguna de Sayula is a wetland with Ramsar (an important place for bird conservation), the wetlands are ecosystems where water is the main factor controlling the environment, vegetable life and animals associated with it. The lakes of the closed Sayula-Atotonilco basin form part of the endorheic lakes of the neo-volcanic axis. But Laguna de Sayula is especially important because of its relation to the migratory habitats of the North American birds.

Flora

Because the lake is salty, the vegetation found nearby is highly tolerant to salt. Along with these, there are low-lying vegetation that surrounds the lake.. The aquatic plants found in the lake is sparse, and can only be found in small pockets of freshwater in the area. The tropical deciduous forest vegetation can be found in higher altitudes, atop of hills and islands on the lake.

The flora that can be found around the lake includes:

Fauna

The wildlife found around the lake is very diverse; it's common to see birds in the winter, of the species Chen caerulescens, Chorlito tildío, and Charadrius vociferus, along with turtles, eagles, insects and hawks.

References

  1. ↑ "Ramsar List". Ramsar.org. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
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