23 photos that show how toxic blooms and pollution could change a sacred lake in Bolivia forever

[Judi Lynn]

Manuel Seoane, Reuters 46m



Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. REUTERS/Manuel Seoane

Lake Titicaca is a giant body of water on the border between Bolivia and Peru that sits 12,500 feet above sea level.

The once-thriving island fishing community is seeing the lake change before them and many are being forced to move away to find other work to make a living.

Over time, a buildup of sediments, toxic blooms, and climate change could cause the lake to dry up.

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. Sitting 12,500 feet above sea level, the lake is of particular interest to climate change researchers as its ecosystem is highly sensitive to global warming.

The once-booming fishing community that settled around the lake has started to hollow. One local said that when the plants in the lake started to go, the fish went with them.

More:
https://www.insider.com/toxic-blooms-and-pollution-could-change-lake-titicaca-forever-2019-9

[3Hotdogs]

1. That lake was a knee-slapper in my H.S. Spanish class.