Poopó Lake 832823 220572374 2008-06-20T14:33:06Z Idioma-bot 2964546 robot Adding: [[lt:Poopo ežeras]] {{Infobox_lake |lake_name = Lake Poopó |image_lake = Poopo 1991.jpg |caption_lake = |coords= {{coor at dm|18|33|S|67|05|W|type:waterbody_region:BO}} |location= [[Altiplano]] |basin_countries= Bolivia |image_bathymetry = |caption_bathymetry = |type = [[Endorheic]] salt lake |inflow = [[Desaguadero River (Bolivia)|River Desaguadero]] |outflow = ''[[evaporation]]'' |catchment = 27,700 km² |area = 1,000 km² |depth = > 1 m |elevation = 3,686 m |cities = [[Oruro]]<br>Challapata, Huari }} [[Image:LakePoopo WaterLevels.jpg|thumb|250px|The top photo shows the lake with low water levels, exposing large tracts of [[playa|salt]] and [[mud flat]]s. Rainfall afterwards resulted in flooding of Poopó with muddy waters from the [[Desaguadero River (Bolivia)|Desaguadero River]]. The lower photo shows the extent of flooding of the western salt flats (indicated by a rectangle)&mdash;sufficient to create an ephemeral island.]] '''Lake Poopó''' is a large saline lake located in a shallow [[Depression (geology)|depression]] in the [[Altiplano|Altiplano Mountains]] in [[Bolivia]] at an [[altitude]] of approximately 3,700 [[meters]]. Because the lake is long and wide (90 km by 32 km) it makes up the eastern half of the [[Oruro Department]], a mining region in southwest [[Bolivia]]. The permanent part of the lake body covers approximately 1,000 [[km²]]. The lake receives most of its water from the [[Desaguadero River (Bolivia)|Desaguadero River]] which links Lake Poopó with [[Lake Titicaca]] at the north end of the Altiplano. Since the lake lacks any major outlet and has a mean depth of no more than 3 m, the surface area varies greatly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9060824/Lake-Poopo |title=Lake Poopo |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |accessdate=2007-07-18 }}</ref> The lake has been designated as a site for conservation under the [[Ramsar Convention]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ramsar.org/key_cp_e.htm |title=Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands |publisher=Ramsar.org |accessdate=2007-07-18 }}</ref> == Lake dynamics == Lake Poopó gets the majority of its water (roughly 92%) from the Desaguadero River which enters the lake at the north end. There are numerous smaller inlets along the eastern shore of the lake, many of which are dry most of the year. At times of very high water levels, Poopó is connected to the salt desert Salar de Coipasa in the west. A minor outlet also leads to [[Salar de Uyuni]] in the far south of the Altiplano, but as the lake lacks any major outlet it is classified as an [[endorheic basin]]. When the water level of Lake Titicaca drops below 3,810 m, the flow of River Desaguadero is so low it can no longer compensate for the massive water losses due to evaporation from the surface of Lake Poopó. At this point, the lake volume begins to decrease. At its maximum in 1986, the lake had an [[area]] of 3,500 km². During the years that followed, the surface area steadily decreased until 1994 when the lake disappeared completely. The time period between 1975 and 1992 is the longest period in recent times with a continuous existence of a water body. [[Image:Fishing boat Lake Poopo.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Fishing in Lake Poopó is low scale and is carried out using rowing boats and small nets. The image shows boats owned by fishermen from the village of Llapallapani]] [[Lake Titicaca]] basin's drainage system, for the most part, is able to provide Titicaca with enough water to retain its status as a freshwater lake although its evaporation rate is so high.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-469897/Lake-Poopo |title=geography of Bolivia |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |accessdate=2007-07-18 }}</ref> == Salinity and geology == The water of Lake Poopó is highly saline. The salinity is a result of the endorheic nature of the hydrolocial system on the Altiplano, which allows all weathered ions to remain in the system. The salinity of Lake Poopó is further enhanced by the lack of outlet, the [[arid]] [[climate]] and the high [[evaporation]] from the lake surface. In the northern end of Lake Poopó there is a dilution with [[freshwater]] from River Desaguadero. This results in a salt [[gradient]] of higher values towards the south. The salinity varies with water volume. During October – November 2006 the salinity in the north end of the lake varied between [[brackish]] and [[saline]] (15-30,000 mg/l). In the south end of the lake the water was classified as a [[brine]] (105,000- 125,000 mg/l). The water type is a 4-2 Na-(Mg)-Cl-(SO4). Geological sources of [[Sodium chloride|NaCl]] such as [[halite]] and [[feldspars]] are present in the drainage area. These could also contribute to the salinity of Lake Poopó. The lake body is situated on top of [[Cenozoic]] deposits, consisting mainly of unconsolidated material. These sediments are the remains of extensive [[prehistoric]] lakes, which covered the Altiplano during at least five [[glaciation]] periods. [[Image:footprint.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Salt crystals in footprints on the shore of Lake Poopó]] == Mining and heavy metals == There is a long tradition of [[mining]] in the Poopó basin. Extraction of metals began already in the 13th century in order to support the [[Inca]] army. After the Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the mining operations became more large scale. At this point the region got its current identity as one of the mining centres of Bolivia. The mining districts are situated at the foothills of the [[Cordillera Oriental]] along the eastern border of the Poopó basin. The economically most important minerals are [[Silver]] and [[tin]]. Studies have shown elevated concentrations of [[heavy metals]] in surface and ground waters of the Poopó basin. These metals are naturally present in the [[bedrock]], from which they are released through [[weathering]] processes. The mining activities in the area further contributes to the heavy metal [[pollution]]. Acid leaching from [[mines]] and mechanical processing of [[ore]] speed up the process of metal landshark is also an [[atmospheric]] deposition of heavy metals from [[smelters]]. The major part of the heavy metals transported to Lake Poopó seem to be immobilized in the bottom sediments. Still, concentrations of [[arsenic]], [[lead]] and [[cadmium]] in the lake water exceed Bolivian and [[WHO]] guideline values for drinking water. == Flora and fauna == Three to four native [[fish]] [[species]] inhabit the lake: the Mauri (a ''[[Trichomycterus]]'' catfish), and the Carache and Ispi (''[[Orestias (Cyprinodontidae)|Orestias]]'' spp.). Two exotic fish species were introduced in the 20th century; the [[rainbow trout]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iranitaly.net/pdf's/hamun%20preliminary%20analysis.pdf |title=Aquaculture Development in Sistan-Baluchestan 2005 - 2008 |publisher= |accessdate=2007-07-20 }}</ref> (''trucha'') in 1942 and the [[Neotropical silversides|silversides]] ''[[Odontesthes bonariensis]]'' (''pejerrey'') in 1955. These bigger fish are now the most commercially important species. The lake has a relatively large fish population although it declines during the years of low water when the [[salinity]] is high. The aquatic bird life is highly diverse with a total of 34 species. Most famous are the three types of [[flamingos]] which mainly live in the shallow lagoons in the northern and eastern parts of the lake. An inventory of the bird population, made in the year 2000 in cooperation with [[BirdLife International]], identified 6 [[endangered species]]. Among these are the [[Chilean flamingo]] and the [[Andean condor]]. A total of 17 superior plants and 3 species of algae have been identified in and around Lake Poopó. Due to the constant draught and flooding, the [[littoral zone]] experiences great disturbances. As a result, there is hardly any vegetation to be found on the shores of the lake. ==Archaeological evidence== Archaeological investigations conducted by the San Andres University of [[La Paz]], Bolivia, shows the influence of the ''Wankarani'' culture on the Poopo area where complex central [[urban area]]s such as villages and towns were developed that expanded into the Poopo basin during the Late Formative period, (200 a.C – 200 d.C), probably in conjunction with changing patterns of agriculture. [[Herder]]s and the life style of [[llama]] [[Caravan (travellers)|caravan 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 (aprox. 300- 900 d.C), shows that the size of the inhabited areas increased. The South Poopo inhabitants developed a unique style of ceramics style with triangular spirals. The [[Huari]] at the east portion of the lake displays an important [[Tiwanaku]] [[enclave]], with ceramic styles from the core Titicaca area and surrounding styles, demonstrating the interactions between different peoples in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkeologi.uu.se/afr/symposium/abstracts/michel.htm |title=Central places formation at the southern Poopo lake basin |publisher=Uppsala Universitet |accessdate=2007-07-18 }}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} * Drever, James I: The Geochemistry of Natural Waters, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 1997. * Montes de Oca; Geografia y Recursos Naturales de Bolivia, 3rd Edition, EDOBOL, La Paz, 1997. * Rocha, O.O. (editor): “Diagóstico de los recursos naturales y culturales de los lagos Poopó y Uru Uru, Oruro – Bolivia”. Convención RAMSAR, WCS/Bolivia, La Paz, 2002. * Troëng, B., Riera-Kilibarda C. Mapas temáticos de recursos minerales de Bolivia, Boletin del Servicio geológico de Bolivia N 7, La Paz, 1996. {{refend}} == External links == *[http://theses.lub.lu.se/archive/2006/07/08/1152346275-24650-815/Examensarbete5B25D.pdf Master thesis about heavy metals in the rivers of the Poopó basin] *[http://www.chemeng.lth.se/exjobb/E290.pdf Master thesis about heavy metals in Lake Poopo] *[http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17254 Satellite images and information from NASA about Lake Poopó] *[http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=3104 Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopo, and Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia] *[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-21676/Bolivia#312740.hook Bolivia Drainage] {{DEFAULTSORT:Poopo}} [[Category:Lakes of Bolivia]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in Bolivia]] [[Category:Endorheic lakes]] [[Category:Landforms of Bolivia]] [[Category:Archaeological cultures]] [[cs:Poopó]] [[de:Poopó-See]] [[es:Lago Poopó]] [[eu:Poopo]] [[fr:Lac Poopó]] [[it:Lago Poopó]] [[lv:Poopo ezers]] [[lt:Poopo ežeras]] [[hu:Poopó-tó]] [[nl:Poopomeer]] [[ja:ポオポ湖]] [[pl:Poopó]] [[pt:Lago Poopó]] [[qu:Puwpu qucha]] [[ru:Поопо]] [[sl:Poopó]] [[sv:Poopósjön]] [[uk:Поопо]]