Laguna Verde (Bolivia)

Laguna Verde
The green Laguna Verde
Location Altiplano, Sur Lípez Province, Potosí Department
Coordinates 22°47′38″S 67°48′44″W / 22.79389°S 67.81222°W / -22.79389; -67.81222Coordinates: 22°47′38″S 67°48′44″W / 22.79389°S 67.81222°W / -22.79389; -67.81222
Type salt lake
Basin countries Bolivia
Surface elevation 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
View from the shore

Laguna Verde (Spanish for "green lake")[1] is a salt lake in an endorheic basin, in the southwestern Altiplano in Bolivia. It is located in the Sur Lípez Province of the Potosí Department. It is close to the Chilean border, at the foot of the volcano Licancabur.

Geography

The Laguna Verde covers an area of 1700 ha, and a narrow causeway divides it into two parts. It is at the southwestern extremity of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and Bolivia itself. It has mineral suspensions of arsenic and other minerals which renders colour to the lake waters. Its color varies from turquoise to dark emerald depending on the disturbance caused to sediments in the lake by winds.

In the backdrop of the lake there is the inactive volcano Licancabur of 5,868 metres (19,252 ft) in elevation, which is a nearly perfect cone.[2] It is believed that an ancient crypt used to be at its peak.

Icy winds are a common phenomenon there and lake waters can attain temperatures as low as -56 degree C but because of its chemical composition its waters still remain in a liquid state. It is 30 km away from Palques Lake.[3][4]

Laguna Verde seen from Licancabur

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mandy Lineback; Jason Gritzner (1 January 2009). Bolivia. Infobase Publishing. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-1-4381-0488-1.
  2. ↑ "Bolivia (Uyuni - Laguna Verde)". Journeylatinamerica. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  3. ↑ James Read; Rough Guides (2002). Bolivia. Rough Guides. pp. 200–. ISBN 978-1-85828-847-5.
  4. ↑ "Lonely Planet review for Laguna Verde". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 30 July 2013.


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