Lake Güija

Lake Güija is a lake in Central America. The lake is situated on the border between Guatemala and El Salvador and has an area of 45 km², of which approximately 32 km² lies in El Salvador.[2][3]

Lake Güija
With San Diego volcano
Lake Güija
LocationJutiapa, Santa Ana
Coordinates14°16′N 89°31′W
TypeVolcanic dam
Native nameLago de Güija
Primary inflowsOstúa River
Basin countriesGuatemala, El Salvador
Surface area45 km2 (17 sq mi)
Surface elevation430 m (1,410 ft)
Official nameComplejo Güija
Designated16 December 2010
Reference no.1924[1]

The lake is of volcanic origin and was formed by a large basaltic lava flow from the San Diego volcano which blocked the Güija depression's original drainage.[4] Lake Güija is fed by the Ostúa, Angue and Cusmapa rivers and is drained on its southeastern side by the río Desagüe, a tributary of the río Lempa. The lake is surrounded by the volcanic cones of the Mita, San Diego and Cerro Quemado. The Salvadoran side of the lake has several small isles: Teotipa, Cerro de Tule and Iguatepec, where a substantial number of pre-Columbian céramics have been discovered since excavations started in 1924. Bosque San Diego La Barra lies on the eastern side of the lake.

World Heritage Status

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on September 21, 1992 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category.[5]

References
  1. "Complejo Güija". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "Lago de Güija". CTPT (in Spanish). SICA. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  3. Herrera, Néstor (2005). "Evaluación Ambiental del complejo Lago de Güija - Informe final" (PDF). MARN. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  4. "San Diego Volcano". GVP. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  5. Lake Guija - UNESCO World Heritage Centre


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