Uru Uru Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uru Uru Lake |
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 Uru Uru Lake
Location in Bolivia
Uru Uru Lake
Location in South America
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| Location | Oruro Department |
| Coordinates | 18°5′40″S 67°5′46″W / 18.09444°S 67.09611°W |
| Primary inflows | Río Desaguadero |
| Primary outflows | Río Desaguadero, Laq'a Jawira |
| Basin countries | Bolivia |
| Surface area | 214 km2 (83 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Surface elevation | 3,686 m (12,093 ft) |
| Settlements | Oruro, Machacamarca |
| Official name: Lagos Poopó y Uru Uru | |
| Designated: | 11 July 2002 |
| Reference #: | 1181 |
Uru Uru Lake is a lake located in the Oruro Department in Bolivia. It gets its water from the Desaguadero River and the Jach'a Jawira. The lake is quite high up, at 3,686 meters (about 12,093 feet) above sea level. Its total area is about 214 square kilometers (83 square miles).
This lake was formed in 1962. It came about when the Desaguadero River flowed into Lake Poopó. The river brought a lot of dirt and sand, creating a large area called "Santo Tomás." This area eventually filled with water, forming Uru Uru Lake. The Desaguadero River is important because it connects two other big lakes: Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopó.
What Happened to Uru Uru Lake?
Uru Uru Lake used to be a popular spot for fun activities like boating and fishing. It had many fish, which made it a great place for people to visit.
The Big Drought of 2016
In 2016, something sad happened. There was a very long period without much rain, called a drought. Because of this drought, the lake lost almost all of its water. This was a huge problem for the environment. Experts and local news called it an "environmental disaster." Many things caused this, including changes in the world's climate and using too much water for mining.
Pollution Problems
By 2021, a large part of Uru Uru Lake was covered in trash. Much of this trash was plastic that came from the nearby city of Oruro. People living there were dumping their garbage, and it ended up in the lake.
The lake also became polluted from water running off nearby mines. Oruro is a city known for its mining industry. This mining runoff brought harmful heavy metals into the lake. These metals include cadmium, zinc, and arsenic, which are very bad for the environment and living things.
See also
- Jach'a Jawira
In Spanish: Lago Uru Uru para niños
