The story of La Cocha lake and Colombia’s ‘Little Switzerland’
The story of La Cocha lake and Colombia’s ‘Little Switzerland’
Nov 2, 2014 posted by Adriaan Alsema
La Cocha, also called Lake Guamez, is not just one Colombia’s largest and most beautiful lakes. It is also one of the Andean water reserves that make up the birthplace of the majestic Amazon river.
Located on the eastern side of the Andes mountain range, La Cocha — cocha means lake in the native quechua language — receives its water from several streams and rivers coming from glaciers located higher up.
Having passed the lake, the water does not flow to the nearby Pacific Ocean, but travels through the Guamez and Putumayo rivers into the Amazon, after which it heads to the Atlantic, more than 1,500 miles east of La Cocha.
Because of its importance to the water supply of the Amazon, the lungs of the world, La Cocha was declared a Wetland of International Importance in the year 2,000.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/southwest-colombias-la-cocha-lake-photos/
