Lake Managua (, ), also known as Lake Xolotlán (), is a freshwater lake in Nicaragua. At 1,042 km², it is approximately long and wide. Similarly to the name of Lake Nicaragua, its other name comes from the Nahuatl language, possibly from the Spanish Tlaxcaltec and Mexica allies but most likely from the Nicarao tribes that had already settled in the region. The city of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, lies on its southwestern shore.
Islands
There are two uninhabited lake islands:
, a volcanic island. There is another nearby volcano, on the mainland: Momotombo. Isla Rosa, an islet
Flooding The level of Lake Managua rises significantly during periods of heavy rain. The highest water level was recorded during the flooding of 1933.
The lake rose 3 metres (10 ft) in five days during Hurricane Mitch in 1998, destroying the homes of many who lived on its edge. An even higher flooding occurred in September/October 2010. Since then, the city has prohibited residential use of the most flood-prone areas, those with the elevation below 42.76 meters above sea level.
Pollution Lake Managua was described by some authors as "the most contaminated lake in Central America",Douglas Haynes, [The Lake at the Bottom of the Bottom]. VQR, Summer 2011, especially since 1927 when it became the dumping point for Managua's raw sewageHazel Plunkett. Nicaragua: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture. Interlink Books, Dec 1, 2001. pg. 71 In 2009, a modern wastewater treatment plant was built and operated by the British company Biwater), but it treats only 40% of the city's wastewater.
The lake today has no stable outlet, with only occasional seasonal floods to Lake Nicaragua through the Tipitapa River, thus concentrating the pollutants.Thorson, Thomas B., "The Status of the Lake Nicaragua Shark: An Updated Appraisal" (1976). Investigations of the Ichthyofauna of Nicaraguan Lakes.Paper 41. Despite the situation, many people still live along the lake's shores and eat the fish from it.
In 2007 the area was dredged, and the sediment hauled off on barges. A strong odor which permeated the area disappeared. A stone rip-rap and concrete wharf was constructed, and a sightseeing boat called La Novia de Xolotlán makes hour-long lake tours when there are sufficient tourists.
Wildlife About 20 fish species still survive in Lake Managua.
While joined to Lake Nicaragua, the bull sharks of that lake cannot migrate to Lake Managua due to a waterfall on the Tipitapa River.
Gallery
References
External links
JPL NASA: PIA03365: Perspective View with Landsat Overlay, Lakes Managua (foreground) and Nicaragua (background)