|
Titicaca (Lago Titicaca)
General Information
| Description |
Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world’s large lakes. Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on earth, and is thought to be three million years old. Lake Titicaca sits 3,810 m above sea level. |
|
| Country |
Bolivia
Peru
|
|
| Latitude |
-15° 50' 0"
(-15.8333) |
|
| Longitude |
-69° 25'
0" (-69.4167) |
|
| Lake Region |
High Andean Lakes
|
|
| River Basin |
Lake Titicaca and Salar de Uyuni
|
Maps
|
Titicaca global index map
|
|
|
|
Largest Lakes of the World by Volume (LakeNet Explorer 2004)
|
|
|
|
Titicaca locator map |
|
|
|
Latin America & Mexico Biodiversity Conservation Priorities |
|
|
|
Ancient Lakes of the World |
|
|
|
Titicaca shoreline map (National Geographic)
|
|
|
|
Lake Basin Management Initiative (LakeNet Explorer)
|
|
Physical Characteristics
| Description |
The Desaguadero River links Lake Titicaca to lakes Urur Uru and Poopo. The average surface area of those lakes, at 3,686 m above sea level, is 3,191 km2. The Lake Titicaca, Desaguadero River and Lake Poopo System (or TDPS System) consists of the hydrographic basins of Lake Titicaca, which occupies 39% of the area; the Desaguadero River, which together with Lake Poopo covers 38%; and the Coipasa Salt Marsh basin, which accounts for the rest.
The total annual inflow from the tributaries into Lake Titicaca is 201 m3s-1. 270 m3s-1 is added mainly from precipitation on the lake. The Desaguadero receives water from several tributaries during its course and has a mean annual flow of 89 m3s-1 before bifurcating to empty into Lake Poopó. Source: Revollo, M. (2001) |
|
| Volume |
932.00 km3 |
|
| Surface Area |
8,400.00 km2 |
|
| Depth |
Mean depth: 107.0 m
Maximum depth: 304.0 m
|
|
| Residence Time |
1,343.0 years |
|
| Age |
2 million - 20 million years before present
|
|
| Origin |
Tectonic
|
|
| Trophic State |
Oligotrophic |
|
| Type |
Fresh
Permanent
Natural
|
|
| Catchment |
Catchment size: 56,270.00
km2
Catchment/surface area ratio: 7:1 |
Socio-Political
| Economic Value |
Fishing is important to Lake Titicaca. Principle species for fishing are the karachi and the ispi. Trout was once very important, but now only accounts for 0.1% of extraction. Trout is now mostly exploited from fish cages and farms. |
|
| Major Cities |
Puno, Juliaca, La Paz, Oruro and El Alto. Population in these cities continues to grow. |
|
| Population |
2,781,862 (2003) |
Watershed Management
| Description |
In 1994 Bolivia and Peru through their chancelleries applied for a joint petition to the United Nations Global Environment Fund (GEF). For the development of the Biodiversity Conservation Project in the Watershed of the Titicaca Lake – Desaguadero – Poopo – and Coipasa Salt Lake (TDPS System), between 1995 and 1997 through a consultancy contracted by the United Nations the project’s proposal is developed. In 1998 the agreement for the project is subscribed between the Bolivian and Peruvian governments and the United Nations. |
|
| Watershed Action Plan |
In development |
|
| Issues |
Floods and droughts are becoming increasingly significant in the region causing damage to the economy of the area. Furthermore there are problems associated with the regulation of water resources for economic activities and natural resources. Soil erosion threatens the region as well; more than a quarter of total watershed area is considered vulnerable to erosion (LBMI 200). Erosion causes loose sediment to flow into waterways and possibly alter composition and structure of lakes and river flows. |
|
| Invasive Species |
Moderate Impact |
|
| Other Issues |
Erosion
Floods
|
|
| Monitoring |
|
|
| Monitoring Programs |
In-Lake
Water Quality
Lake Use
|
Biodiversity Conservation
| Description |
Vegetation is characterized by the presence of shrub formations (Tholares) of very resinous micro foliated leaves. Species of Baccharis incarum are pointed out, as well as the Baccharis boliviensis, Parastrehia lepidophylla, Fabiana densa. In some cases these shrub formations reach till 2.5 m of height. In certain less cold microclimates hillsides, it prospers some cactus of the Oreocereus genus or cushion type like the Lobivia sp.
Typical animals are the Quirquincho (Chaetophractus nationi), mice (Auliscomys bolivienis, Ctenomys opimus) and birds like the Suri (Pterocnemia pennata) and other birds like the (Buteo pocilochroos, Geositta punensis, Muscisaxicola juninensis).
|
|
| Designations |
LakeNet Biodiversity Priority
Ramsar Site
WWF Global 200
WWF Conservation Status Priority I
|
|
| Species of Concern |
|
|
| Invasive Species Level |
Moderate |
|
| Biological Distinctiveness |
Globally outstanding |
Organizations
LakeNet Programs
Documents
Resources
News
Additional Data Sources
| • |
Birkett, C., and I. Mason. 1995. A new global lakes database for remote sensing programme studying climatically sensitive large lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 21 (3) 307-318. |
|
| • |
Duker, L. and L. Borre. 2001. Biodiversity conservation of the world's lakes: a preliminary framework for identifying priorities. LakeNet Report Series Number 2. Annapolis, Maryland USA. |
|
| • |
International Lake Environment Committee, the United Nations Environment Program and Environment Agency, Government of Japan. 1997. World Lakes Database. |
|
Search again
|
