Lake Chapala - Jalisco, MX - Natural Lakes on Waymarking.com

Beautiful Lake Chapala sits at 5000 feet above sea level and surrounded by mountains. It is nearly 50 miles long and 10 miles wide. The lake is a major source of water for Guadalajara located about 40 minutes to the north.

The lake has undergone and still is going through many changes pushed upon it by man. It suffered serious pollution to the point that fish were unsafe to eat and the waters were not safe to swim in. This was withing the last 10 years. However the efforts of conservationists in Mexico have been turning the tide. The water is now safe to swim in and the fish are reportedly safe to eat(the jury is still put on that one).

The water level has also undergone drastic changes. The lake was nearly pumped dry at the turn of the millennium. Recent efforts have been successful in returning it to an approximation of its level near the start of the 19th century. The city though still poses a huge threat to the existence of the lake since so many people depend on it in the city for their source of drinking water.

The lake is fed by a river that also suffered extreme levels of pollution in the past. Efforts are underway to clean it up as well.

All in all the lake has been a lesson in what mans pollution and mismanagement can do to a lake but it was understood in time and the efforts since 2000 seem to be turning the tide and returning the lake to a sustainable situation. By all measurements it is a most beautiful lake to behold. The vast majority of its shoreline is natural.

Lake Type: Tectonic lake Coordinates location: city malecon Max. Length: 50 miles Max. Width: 10 miles Max. Depth: Not listed Surface area: Not listed Parking / trail head: Not Listed Website: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   01/28/2019 Benicha visited it