Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán, located in the department of Sololá, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Guatemala. It has been nominated as one of the seven wonders of the world. The lake has a reputation for being the most beautiful lake in the world and it is also one of the most unique places in the world. Its waters range in color from deep blue to green and cover an area of 130 km2. Formed by a volcanic eruption about 84,000 years ago, the lake is 1,500 meters above sea level, 18 kilometers long, and up to 341 meters deep, which makes it the deepest lake in Central America. The hills and volcanic mountains around the lake are densely forested and home to an abundance of birds, from the shy woodpecker to the Quetzal, the National bird. There are 798 different species of plants in the region, 61 of which are endemic to the region. In addition, the rich biodiversity of the region includes 116 species of reptiles and amphibians, 12 of which are endemic. There are 236 species of birds found in the lake area, 28% of which are listed on the Red List of Threatened Species, and 12 species are endemic or come from restricted areas: Pink-Headed Warbler, Brown Backed Solitaire, the Resplendent Quetzal, Blue-Throated Toucanet, Atitlan Grebe, Azure-Rumped Tanager and Horned Guan. Many migratory birds, including the Pied-Billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck and American Coot, use Lake Atitlán as a wintering area. The unique biodiversity is also reflected in the presence of mammals, of the 141 species that are found there, 7 are endemic.