The largest lake in Colombia has been identified as one of the most threatened ecosystems worldwide.
Colombia’s largest lake, Tota, located in the central Boyaca department, has won a Grey Globe award, a distinction which identifies it as one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world.
Onion crops, trout-farming, and sewage from the four surrounding municipalities and steel-manufacturing have affected the level and quality of the water.
nd in fertilizers used for the cultivation of onions result in an algae bloom which invades the lake, depleting oxygen levels and destroying the ecosystem. Trout-fishing and sewage from the surrounding towns also contribute to the polluting effect.
The Mayor of the shoreside town Aquitainia, agrees that the lake is in a delicate condition, but worries that measures to protect it may have negative consequences for local residents who rely on the lake for their livelihoods.
trout-farm that operates in the lake, told the BBC, “farmers are willing to cooperate and to engage in environmentally friendly practices. We are ready to develop all the techniques at our disposal to reduce the possible impact.” According to Munar, good farm practices have obtained several accreditations demonstrating trout-farming’s environmental sustainability.
Environmentalist Felipe Velasco said that the steelwork company in the catchment area combined with nearly half a million residents use approximately 3,000 litres of the lake’s water every second “without any compensation.”
Lake Tota defenders leaped naked into the water to bring attention to the threatened lake.