Uru Uru Lake

Uru Uru Lake is a lake in the Oruro Department in Bolivia. It is fed by the Desaguadero River and the Jach'a Jawira. It is situated at an elevation of 3,686 m, its surface area is 214 km².

Uru Uru Lake
Uru Uru Lake
Location	Oruro Department
Coordinates	18°5′40″S 67°5′46″W
Primary inflows	Río Desaguadero
Primary outflows	Río Desaguadero, Laq'a Jawira
Basin countries	Bolivia
Surface area	214 km^2 (83 sq mi)
Max. depth	1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Surface elevation	3,686 m (12,093 ft)
Settlements	Oruro, Machacamarca
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Lagos Poopó y Uru Uru
Designated	11 July 2002
Reference no.	1181[1]

The lake is formed by the flow of the Desaguadero River at its mouth into Lake Poopó, over the extensive sedimentation known as "Santo Tomás" from the small hermitage found there that was completely inundated. The formation dates to 1962. The river connects Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopó.

The lake is a tourist attraction for boating and fishing, as it contains a large number of fish.

Oruro is located very near the shore, and is an industrial mining center.

During a long drought in 2016, the lake lost almost all of its water. This was described by local media and experts as an environmental catastrophe caused by several factors, including climate change and the use of water for mining.[2]

See also

• Jach'a Jawira

References

1. "Lagos Poopó y Uru Uru". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. (in Spanish) Marcelo Tedesqui, El lago Uru Uru desaparece y se lleva vida y esperanza, La Patria (reprint from El Deber), 25 November 2016