LAKE TITICACA
Justin Burdine
Location
General Facts
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3800 meters above sea level
Surface area: 8400 km2
Volume: 930 km3
Max Depth: 280 meters
Water retention time: > 1000 years
Over 3 million years old
Monomictic
Cultural Significance - Past
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Incan civilization
 Viracocha
 Origins
 Livelihood
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Los Uros
 Indigenous
group
 Live on lake surface
 Rafts and boats
Lake Inputs/Outputs
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Evaporation accounts for 90% of outputs
Remaining 10% through Rio Desaguadero
Inputs of rainfall and runoff occur during the rainy
season (January – March)
Water balance
Bahía de Puno
Cruz et al. (2006)
Eutrophication
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Wastewater from UNA ((Universidad Nacional del
Altiplano), the city, and nearby towns
Poorly constructed sewage plant that is not
updated to growing population
 Overflows
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in rainy season
Anoxic conditions in higher water depths
Study looks at water degradation between 1970
and 2005.
Lemna
Harm to bystanders
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Indigenous populations
Livestock near lake
Humans using lake for recreation
Tourism (floating boom)
Fascioliasis
Transboundary planning
Intervention to control
Questions?