Siecha Lakes
Siecha Lakes | |
---|---|
Chingaza Natural National Park | |
Basin countries | Colombia |
Surface area | 141,401 m2 (1,522,030 sq ft)[1] |
Max. depth | 25 m (82 ft) |
Surface elevation | 3,590 m (11,780 ft)[2] |
The Siecha Lakes are three glacial lakes located in the
Muisca who inhabited the area before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca in the 1530s.[3]
Etymology
In the Chibcha language of the Muisca Siecha means "House of the Lord".[4]
Description
The Siecha Lakes consist of three small glacial lakes, from large to small and east to west; Siecha (63,893 m2),Oxyura jamaicensis andina, Andean teal and the American coot can be found. Mammals around the lakes include the spectacled bear, white-tailed deer, red deer and the little red brocket.[4]
History
In the colonial period, the lakes were partly drained to extract the
zipa was not in Lake Guatavita, yet in the Siecha Lakes.[5] Later, the raft was more-or-less legally taken from Colombia to Europe. The transporting ship burnt in the harbour of Bremen and the raft was lost.[4]
Tourism
To visit the lakes certain rules apply; visits are only possible on Saturdays and Sundays, access at the entrance point needs to be not later than 10:00 AM and exit not after 4:00 PM. A maximum of 30 visitors per day is allowed.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Google Maps Area Calculator
- ^ Google Maps Elevation Finder
- ^ Ocampo López, 2013, p.213
- ^ a b c d e (in Spanish) Description of the Siecha Lakes
- ^ Guarín Martínez, 2005, p.239
Bibliography
- Guarín Martínez, Óscar. 2005. De bárbaros a civilizados: la invención de los muiscas en el siglo XIX - From brutals to civilised: the invention of the Muisca in the 19th century, 228–246. Universidad La Javeriana.
- Ocampo López, Javier. 2013. Mitos y leyendas indígenas de Colombia - Indigenous myths and legends of Colombia, 1-219. Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A..
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Siecha.
- (in Spanish) Hikes to the Siecha Lakes