Laguna Lachuá

Infobox lake
lake_name = Laguna Lachuá
image_lake = Lagunalachu%C3%A0.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Cobán
coords = coord|15|55|N|90|40|W|type:waterbody_region:GT|display=inline,title
type = Karstic lake (cenote)
inflow = Peyán River
outflow = Lachuá River
catchment =
basin_countries = Guatemala
length =
width =
area = 4 km²
depth =
max-depth = 222 m
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 173 m
islands =
cities =

Laguna Lachuá is a Karstic lake in Guatemala. It is located in the middle of a national park covered with tropical rain forest, northwest of Cobán, near the border between the departments of Alta Verapaz and El Quiché. The lake is near circular in shape and is probably a cenote or doline. The lake water has a slightly sulphurous smell, which may explain the origin of its name: "Lachuá" is derived from the Maya Q'eqchi' words "li chu há" which means "the fetid water". The water contains a relatively high degree of calcite and tree branches fallen into the lake are quickly covered with a white calcite layer. [cite web | url=http://www.showcaves.com/english/gt/karst/Lachua.html | publisher=showcaves.com | title=Show Caves of Guatemala - Laguna Lachua | author= | access=2008 | format=]

National Park

Geobox|Protected Area
name = Laguna Lachuá National Park
native_name =
other_name = Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá
category = II
etymology =
official_name =
motto =
nickname =


image_caption =


symbol =
country = Guatemala
state =
region = Alta Verapaz
district =
municipality = Cobán
city =
landmark = karstic lake
river =
location =
elevation = 173
prominence =
lat_d = | lat_m = | lat_s = | lat_NS =
long_d = | long_m = | long_s = | long_EW =
highest =
highest_location = | highest_region = | highest_country =
highest_elevation =
highest_lat_d = | highest_lat_m = | highest_lat_s = | highest_lat_NS =
highest_long_d = | highest_long_m = | highest_long_s = | highest_long_EW =
lowest =
lowest_location = | lowest_region = | lowest_country =
lowest_elevation =
lowest_lat_d = | lowest_lat_m = | lowest_lat_s = | lowest_lat_NS =
lowest_long_d = | lowest_long_m = | lowest_long_s = | lowest_long_EW =
length = | length_orientation =
width = | width_orientation =
area = 145
geology = Karst
biome = - Tropical wet forest - Wetland
plant = 220 species
animal = over 210 species of mammals and birds
established =
date = 1976
management = CONAP, Ecoregión Lachuá
management_location = | management_region = | management_country =
management_elevation =
management_lat_d = | management_lat_m = | management_lat_s = | management_lat_NS =
management_long_d = | management_long_m = | management_long_s = | management_long_EW =
owner =
leader =
public = max. 84 persons per day
visitation = allowed | visitation_date =
access =
whs_name =
whs_year =
whs_number =
whs_region =
whs_criteria =
iucn_category = II
free = | free_type =


map_caption =
map_background =
map_locator =
map_locator_x =
map_locator_y =
website = [http://lachua.org/index.php Ecoregión Lachuá]
footnotes =In 1976 an area of 145 km2 around the lake (coord|15.919074|-90.673084|type:landmark_region:GT|display=inline|name=Laguna Lachuá) was designated a national park.

References

External links

* [http://lachua.org/index.php Ecoregión Lachuá]
* [http://www.showcaves.com/english/gt/karst/Lachua.html Laguna Lachua]
* [http://www.elperiodico.com.gt/es/20070801/actualidad/42140/ "Lachuá: el paraíso en la otra esquina". Article in "ElPeriódico de Guatemala"]