Lake Conococha

Lake Conococha^[1][2][3] (possibly from Quechua quñuq,^[4] qunuq^[5] warm, lukewarm, qucha lake,^[6] "warm lake") is a South American lake located in the Andes mountains of northwestern Peru. It is located in the region of Ancash near the junction of the roads going from Callejón de Huaylas to Chiquián.^[1]

Lake Conococha
Lake Conococha with Mount Caullaraju in the background.
Lake Conococha
Location	Ancash, Peru
Coordinates	10°07′40″S 77°17′02″W
Primary inflows	Small streams from Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra mountain ranges.
Primary outflows	Santa River
Basin countries	Peru
Surface area	1.976 km2 (0.763 sq mi)
Surface elevation	4,020 metres (13,189 ft)

Geography

Conococha
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     81     11 0     98     11 1     138     11 1     62     12 0     22     12 −3     4     12 −6     1     13 −6     4     12 −5     10     12 −3     35     12 −2     44     12 −2     44     12 −2 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-Data.org
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.2     52 32     3.9     51 34     5.4     52 33     2.4     53 32     0.9     54 27     0.2     53 22     0     55 21     0.2     54 22     0.4     53 26     1.4     53 28     1.7     53 29     1.7     53 29 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Lake Conococha has an elevation of 4,020 metres (13,189 ft) above sea level^[2] and an extension of 1.976 square kilometres (0.763 sq mi).^[3] It is located at the headwaters of the Santa River which runs in a northwest direction from the lake.^[1][2]

According to the Köppen climate classification, the area presents a tundra climate (ET); with a mean annual temperature of 4.7 °C and an average annual rainfall of 543 mm.^[7]

The village of Conococha is located on the western shore of the lake, where the roads from Lima and Pativilca to Huaraz and Chiquián meet.^[1][2]

Ecology

Flora

Aquatic vegetation on the shores is represented by reeds of Scirpus spp. and aquatic herbs like watercress, Elodea potamogeton and Myriophyllum sp. While the surrounding meadows include plants of genera Carex and Calamagrostis.^[3]

Fauna

The lake is home to a frog species (Telmatobius mayoloi) discovered in 1996 and endemic of the Santa River basin.^[8]

Environmental issues

Lake Conococha is undergoing a process of eutrophication (overpopulation of plants and algae due to pollution), being the main reasons: livestock raising, blackwater from the surrounding villages, and disposal of solid waste on the lake shores.^[3]

See also

• Caullaraju