Lake Herrera
Lake Herrera | ||
---|---|---|
Primary inflows Bojacá River | Bogotá River (San José channel) | |
Primary outflows | none | |
Basin countries | Colombia | |
Max. length | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) | |
Max. width | 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) | |
Surface area | 280 hectares (690 acres) | |
Average depth | 1.3 metres (4.3 ft) | |
Max. depth | 2 metres (6.6 ft) | |
Surface elevation | 2,550 m (8,370 ft) | |
References | [1][2] |
Lake Herrera is a small lake located at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the urban centre of
Description
Lake Herrera is situated on the
History
Investigations by archaeologist Gonzalo Correal Urrego in 1984 have revealed the existence of a preceramic site with two layers. The oldest layer has been dated at 3410 years BP and the younger layer at 3135 BP.[4]
Correal Urrego has discovered preceramic tools and wooden beams in horizontal position, possibly used to against the lake overflowing. Different stone tools found are scrapers and chips with sharp edges. Other tools were handles, and
When the climatic conditions became drier and layers of volcanic ash were deposited around the lake in the first millennium BCE, the inhabitants of the region started to develop agriculture around the lake.[5]
Later excavations have provided ceramic with a typical red colour, rich in SiO2.[6]
The lake is a residual part of Lake Humboldt, but since 1973 functions as an artificial lake after the construction of drainage channels. The lake is fed from the Bojacá River from the northeast and from the San José channel, fed by the Bogotá River in the southwest. Between 1969 and 2013 the surface area of the lake has been reduced with 175 hectares (430 acres).[2]
Recent mining activities close to the lake endanger the environment of Lake Herrera, formalised a water reserve on July 23, 2006.[3][7]
Biodiversity
Flora and fauna around the lake is endangered and migrating birds use Lake Herrera.[1] Several species have been found and described in and around the lake:
- thickhead ground snake (Atractus crassicaudatus)[8]
- Cheilanthes myriophylla[9]
- Drymaeus nigrofasciatus[10]
- Stenocercus trachycephalus[11]
Tourism
The lake can be visited and walked around, although some parts are privately owned and access permits have to be arranged.[2]
Trivia
- Another name for Lake Herrera and its surroundings is Sabrisky Desert[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Description Lake Herrera
- ^ a b c (in Spanish) Lake Herrera on the official website Mosquera
- ^ a b (in Spanish) Lake Herrera largest water reserve of the Bogotá savanna
- ^ a b (in Spanish) Excavations Correal Urrego around Lake Herrera Archived 2016-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rodríguez, 2005, p.105
- ^ De Paepe & Cardale, 1990, p.100
- ^ (in Spanish) Mining activities endanger Lake Herrera - RCN
- ^ Atractus crassicaudatus[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cheilanthes myriophylla
- ^ Borrero, F.J. - Colombian non-marine mollusks
- ^ Stenocerus trachycephalus
- ^ (in Spanish) Sabrisky Desert around Lake Herrera
Bibliography
- Paepe, Paul de, and Marianne Cardale de Schrimpff. 1990. Resultados de un estudio petrológico de cerámicas del Periodo Herrera provenientes de la Sabana de Bogotá y sus implicaciones arqueológicas - Results of a petrological study of ceramics form the Herrera Period coming from the Bogotá savanna and its archaeological implications. Boletín Museo del Oro _. 99-119. Accessed 2016-07-08.
- Rodríguez, José Vicente. 2005. De la sabana a la selva - Un yacimiento formativo ritual en el entorno de la antigua laguna de La Herrera, Madrid, Cundinamarca - From the savanna to the jungle - a ritual formative site in the surroundings of the ancient Lake Herrera, Madrid. Maguaré 19. 103-131. Accessed 2016-07-08.
Further reading
- Broadbent, Sylvia M.. 1971. Reconocimientos arqueológicos de la Laguna Herrera. Revista Colombiana de Arqueología 1. 171-214. .
External links
- (in Spanish) Video Lake Herrera