| Lake Poopó | |
|---|---|
| Lago Poopó (Spanish) | |
 Aerial photograph of the lake in 1991 | |
  Lake Poopó  Lake Poopó | |
| Location | Altiplano |
| Coordinates | 18°33′S67°05′W / 18.550°S 67.083°W /-18.550; -67.083 |
| Type | Endorheicsalt lake |
| Primary inflows | River Desaguadero |
| Primary outflows | evaporation |
| Catchment area | 27,700 km2 (10,700 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Bolivia |
| Surface area | 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) |
| Average depth | >1 m (3 ft 3 in) |
| Surface elevation | 3,686 m (12,093 ft) |
| Settlements | Oruro Challapata,Huari |
 | |
| Official name | Lagos Poopó y Uru Uru |
| Designated | 11 July 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1181[1] |
Lake Poopó (Spanish:Lago PoopóSpanish:[ˈlaɣopo.oˈpo]) was a largesaline lake in a shallowdepression in theAltiplano inOruro Department,Bolivia, at analtitude of approximately 3,700 m (12,100 ft).[2][3] Due to the lake's length and width (90 by 32 km; 56 by 20 mi), it made up the eastern half of Oruro, known as a mining region in southwestBolivia. The permanent part of the lake body covered approximately 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi) and it was the second-largest lake in the country.[4] The lake received most of its water from theDesaguadero River, which flows fromLake Titicaca at the north end of the Altiplano. Since the lake lacked any major outlet and had a mean depth of less than 3 m (10 ft), the surface area differed greatly seasonally.[5]
In 2002, the lake was designated as a site for conservation under theRamsar Convention.[6][7][8] By December 2015, the lake had completely dried up, leaving only a few marshy areas.[9][4][3] Despite the lake rebounding from two previous recorded drying instances, as of 2016, the lake's recovery is considered unlikely.[10] Suggested causes of the decline are the melting of the Andes glaciers and loss of their waters, because of a droughtdue to climate change, as well as continued diversion of water for mining and agriculture.[10]
Archaeological investigations conducted by theSan Andrés University ofLa Paz, Bolivia, shows the influence of theWankarani culture in the Poopó area. Complex centralurban areas, such as villages and towns, were developed that expanded into the Poopó basin during the Late Formative period, (200 BC – 200 AD), probably in conjunction with changing patterns of agriculture.Herders and the life style ofllamacaravan merchants coexisted with more sedentary farmers in a harmonious system of exchange of goods and services.
Other investigators examining the following period, the Early Regional Developments (c. 300 – 900 AD), have concluded that the size of the inhabited areas increased. The South Poopó inhabitants developed a unique style of ceramics style with triangular spirals. The east portion of the lake has evidence of an importantTiwanakuenclave, with ceramic styles from the core Titicaca area and surrounding styles, demonstrating the interactions between different peoples in the area.[11]
The main inlet of Lake Poopó (roughly 92% of the water) came from the Desaguadero River, which entered the lake at the north end. It flowed south fromLake Titicaca. There were numerous smaller inlets along the eastern shore of the lake, many of which were dry most of the year. At times of very high water levels, Poopó was connected to the salt desertSalar de Coipasa in the west. A minor outlet led toSalar de Uyuni in the far south of the Altiplano, but as the lake lacks any major outlet, it is classified as anendorheic basin.
When the water level of Lake Titicaca was below 3,810 m (12,500 ft), the flow of Desaguadero River was so low it could no longer compensate for the massive water losses due to evaporation from the surface of Lake Poopó. At this point, the lake volume began to decrease. At its maximum in 1986, the lake had anarea of 3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi). During the years that followed, the surface area steadily decreased until 1994, when the lake disappeared completely. The time period between 1975 and 1992 was the longest period in recent times when the lake had a continuous water body.
Action has been taken in order to make the area ecologically sustainable again, with the help of funding from theEuropean Union. But the efforts have been unable to offset other changes: since 1995 regional temperatures have risen and consequently tripled evaporation rates. In addition, water was drawn off for mining and irrigation, compounding the problems.[12] On 20 January 2016 the area was declared a disaster zone by the Bolivian government.[13]
The water of Lake Poopó was highly saline. The salinity was a result of the endorheic nature of the hydrological system on the Altiplano, which allowed all weathered ions to remain in the system. The salinity of Lake Poopó was further increased by thearidclimate and the highevaporation from the lake surface.
In the northern end of Lake Poopó, dilution of the salinity occurred due tofreshwater flow from the Desaguadero River. The saltgradient of the water increased towards the south.
The salinity varied with water volume. During October and November 2006, the salinity in the north end of the lake varied betweenbrackish andsaline (15–30,000 mg/L). In the south end of the lake the water was classified as abrine (105,000–125,000 mg/L). The water type was a 4–2 Na-(Mg)-Cl-(SO4).[clarification needed]
Geological sources ofsodium chloride (NaCl), such ashalite andfeldspars, are present in the drainage area. These could also contribute to the salinity of Lake Poopó. The lake body was situated on top ofCenozoic deposits, consisting mainly of unconsolidated material. These sediments are the remains of extensiveprehistoric lakes, which covered the Altiplano during at least fiveglaciation periods.
There is a long tradition ofmining in the Poopó Basin. Extraction of metals was ordered in the 13th century to support theInca army. After Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the mining operations increased in scale. At this point the region became known as one of the mining centres of Bolivia.
The mining districts are situated at the foothills of theCordillera Oriental along the eastern border of the Poopó basin. The most important minerals to the economy aresilver andtin.
Studies have shown elevated concentrations ofheavy metals in surface and ground waters of the Poopó basin. These metals are naturally present in thebedrock, from which they are released throughweathering processes. The mining activities in the area further contributes to the heavy metalpollution. Acid leaching frommines and mechanical processing ofore speed up the process.
The major part of the heavy metals transported to Lake Poopó were immobilized in the bottom sediments. But concentrations ofarsenic,lead, andcadmium in the lake water exceeded Bolivian andWorld Health Organization guideline values for drinking water.
There were only three fish species in the system: the native pupfishOrestias agassizii and catfishTrichomycterus rivulatus, and theintroduced silversideOdontesthes bonariensis.[14] The lake had a relatively large fish population, but by 2017 pollution and the near-complete reduction of water had all but decimated the locally important fishing industry.[15]
The aquatic bird life was very diverse, with a total of 34 species. Most famous are the three species offlamingo (Andean,James's andChilean), which mainly lived in the shallow lagoons in the northern and eastern parts of the lake. An inventory of the bird population, made in 2000 in cooperation withBirdLife International, identified 6threatened species and others that arenear-threatened. Among these are the Andean flamingo and theAndean condor.
A total of 17higher plants and 3 species ofalgae were identified in and around Lake Poopó. Due to the constant drought and flooding, thelittoral zone experienced great disturbances. As a result, there was hardly any vegetation to be found on the shores of the lake.
The sparse communities nearby have suffered culturally and financially due to the loss of the lake, as the local economy was dependent on lake fishing.[16][17] Additionally, many bird species native to Bolivia and internationally have been affected due to loss of food, and an annual migration area.
Lakes on theAltiplano | |
|---|---|
| Present-day lakes andsalt pans | |
| Lake expansions ofLake Titicaca | |
| Ancient lakes | |
| Other paleolakes and lake expansions in the region | |
