LAKE ATITLAN

LAKE ATITLAN

Lake Atitlan is located in the highlands of western Guatemala. It was created from the crater of a cataclysmic volcanic eruption about 85,000 years ago. It is situated about 5,000 feet above sea level, approximately 15 miles long by 5 miles wide and ringed by ridges and peaks over 7000 feet and three volcanoes that rise to elevations over 11,500 feet. It is an astoundingly beautiful and majestic place and was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Recently, pollution from agriculture, modern soaps and chemicals and inadequate sewage treatment caused an extensive and toxic blue-green algae bloom of cyanobacteria that killed a lot of the fish and rendered the lake dangerous to bath or swim in. The bloom has receded, but the problems of pollution still 

persist and the lake continues to be threatened.

The lake has great spiritual and practical significance for the Mayan people that inhabit the towns surrounding it. Atitlan means “the place where the rainbow gets its colors” in the local Mayan Tz’tujil language and it is considered the place where the world was first formed. It provides fish and other important resources such as reeds, and the fertile land around the shores is used for growing a food crops. When the lake was sick, groups of traditional Mayans gathered by the lake to pray for its healing and to bring their world back in balance.

THE MANY VIEWS AND MOODS OF LAKE ATITLAN

View from the shore near San Pedro La Laguna

The clouds are constantly creating new formations

Clouds billowing over the mountain peaks

Looking towards San Pedro and San Juan and San Pablo and
San Marcos straight ahead

View from above "Mariposa" (butterfly) beach

Evening light bathing "El Rostro Maya" (the Mayan face)
also known as "El Nariz" (the nose)

Spectacular clouds over "El Nariz"

Sunrise and north shore of the lake seen from slopes of "El Nariz"

View from El Nariz of San Juan La Laguna
and Vulcan San Pedro

View from the top of "El Nariz" of Lake Atitlan looking east.