El Salvador, located in Central America, is home to multiple biological ecosystems--from wide mountain ranges and intimidating volcanoes to majestic beaches and refreshing lakes and rivers. However, many of these natural wonders are in danger, especially the bodies of water such as Lago de Coatepeque, one of the Country’s most famous and beautiful landmarks. This lake is best known for its breath-taking turquoise waters, but evidence shows the lake is suffering threatening changes. Every year, population, tourism, and trade grow on the shores of Lago de Coatepeque, which allows for larger quantities of waste to be dumped into the water, not only endangering the beautiful landscape but its aquatic life as well. The constant pollution has caused this coloration because it encourages the growth of cyanobacteria which produce microcystins, toxins that are harmful to both humans and marine species. Moreover, the water that falls off the slopes and into the lake carries fertilizers from the nearby coffee plantations, more rubbish, plastics, and residual water from communities.
If concrete actions are not taken immediately regarding this problem, it is possible that within a few years the aquifer will be declared dead, like many other lakes in the region. The downfalls to this issue are mainly towards locals since due to El Salvador’s water crisis, many communities have very little access to clean water and overall resources, which leaves them without many options but to consume the contaminated water from the lake, which then poses dangers for their health. Many fish species have also become extinct due to the high levels of contamination of the water. However, some good news about Lago de Coatepeque is that, according to the Minister of the Environment, fortunately, environmental degradation is not irreversible. Some management guidelines and new measures have been proposed to conserve and protect the lake, and efforts have been done along with the Coatepeque Foundation. Nevertheless, it is most certainly up to the industries nearby and the people who visit the lake to take measures for themselves in order to truly protect this beautiful and important lake.
By Gabriela Echeverría, YCAC LATAM
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