| Lake Suesca | |
|---|---|
 View of the lake from the east | |
  Lake Suesca | |
| Location | Suesca &Cucunubá, Cundinamarca |
| Coordinates | 5°11′N73°47′W / 5.183°N 73.783°W /5.183; -73.783 |
| Type | Intermontane |
| Basin countries | Colombia |
| Max. length | 6 kilometres (3.7 mi)[1] |
| Max. width | 2 kilometres (1.2 mi)[1] |
| Average depth | 8 metres (26 ft)[1] |
| Surface elevation | 2,800 m (9,200 ft)[2] |
Lake Suesca is a naturalwater body situated on theAltiplano Cundiboyacense, belonging to the municipalities ofSuesca andCucunubá in the department ofCundinamarca,Colombia. Thebasin has a semi-elliptical shape that extends on a north–south axis, with roughly 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) length and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) width.[1] The average depth is 8 metres (26 ft). It is located in theEastern Ranges, on theanticlinal ofNemocón, in the northeast of the department, at an altitude of 2,800 metres (9,200 ft).[2]
Geologically, the lake is ofPleistocene origin and is linked to the formation of theEastern Ranges, which had a strong uprising activity during thePliocene. Because of its location there is a wide distribution ofsedimentary rocks, and theGuadalupe Group,Guaduas,Bogotá andCachoformations are present in the area. The basin is crossed along its axis by the Suesca Fault, upliftingsandstone.[2][3][4]
The soils of the basin are classified asalfisols, whereerosion areas are classified as "bad soils". Generally these correspond to cold and dry climates, with corrugated relief and highly evolved soils, where the presence of erosion is common, and mosthorizons have enrichment with clay. These soils were formed during thePliocene andQuaternary, containing deposits of volcanic ash from theCordillera Central, which weathered into clays, currently present in the lower strata.[4]
The original vegetation was composed ofencenillo and "corono" forests, accompanied by morexerophytic Andeancommunities, which correspond to the Low montane dry forest (bs-MB) according to theHoldridge life zones. The actual land cover is dominated byexotic species, mostlyAcacia decurrens, with few remnants of native vegetation in the north and south of the basin.[3][4]
From a climatic point of view, the region has abimodal rainfall regime, with an annual average of 647 mm, average temperatures of 14 °C, 70% relative humidity and evaporation of 1331 mm/year. The winds are a determinant factor for the vegetation and climate, as they are mainly influenced bySabana de Bogotá,Magdalena River Valley and theOrinoco Plains, which converge in the area to generate specific characteristics from the point of view of moisture and the feasibility of rainfall.[3]
The region is under the jurisdiction of the Corporación Autonoma Regional de Cundinamarca (CAR) (environmental authority) and its central axis (north–south) serves as the boundary between the municipalities ofCucunubá andSuesca.
As with various other lakes on the Altiplano,Tota,Siecha,Guatavita andIguaque, theMuisca who were the original inhabitants of the area before theSpanish conquest of the Muisca, performedreligious rituals at Lake Suesca.[5]
The basin has suffered severe deforestation and erosion, which together have negatively affected the lakeecosystem, which added to the impact ofclimate change have led to a significant reduction of the water surface. Plans for sustainable development are made in recent years.[6]
Since 1970, asoil remediation process withAcacia decurrens,Pinus patula andEucalyptus globulus was started, but due to the lack ofmanagement, the problems related withwater scarcity due to the reduction ofrunoff and water contained in the soil increased. Nowadays the entire basin is located within a forest reserve that has little management by the authorities.
Byoral tradition, it is known that the lake had a great variety of species, such as "Guapucha"(Grundulus bogotensis) and "Capitan de la Sabana" (Eremophilus mutisii), now locally extinct due to thedesiccation of the water body and the introduction of carp and trout, which also disappeared by the same effect ofEl Niño in 1998.[7]
The lake is an important stop-over for manymigratory birds, but few counting exercises have been made in the area.
