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 Central America Lake Atitlan is having serious eco problems.
By Tom Johnson
As reported in the Guatemala Times Lake Atitlan is being contaminated daily by population explosions and the increased urbanization around the lake.
The sewage, solid, liquid and industrial waste is dumped indiscriminately into the different water bodies’ additionally massive deforestation and intensive agriculture around the water bodies is also a big problem. All is directly related to overpopulation of humans.
The recent “algae bloom” in Lake Atitlan has triggered an enormous alarm in the population and the media. Many people are panicking and basically believe that something drastic has happened to Lake Atitlan in just a few days, but this assumption is wrong.
The problem has been steadily increasing for many years. But now, because it is has become finally visible to everybody’s eyes, the problem has finally become tangible, we have: “algae bloom”. Now people start to react.
Guatemala has the same phenomenon in Lake Atitlan although this is due to specie of blue green algae. Well, algae is the wrong word, what we see is actually something called: cyanobacteria. Cyanobaceria grow because of excessive levels of nutrients including phosphor and nitrogen in the water.
The cyanobacteria in Atitlan have been identified as Lyngbya hironymusii (Lyngbya hieronymusii), actually a rarity among the cyanobacterias.
This is a serious crisis, but a crisis is also the best time to join forces, accept that we all are to blame for not doing enough and it is a tremendous opportunity to solve the environmental problem of Lake Atitlan for the future.
For your next vacation you should think about visiting Lake Atitlan Guatemala. This tropical paradise has several villages doting the water front of this volcanic lake. Lake Atitlan is recognized to be the deepest lake in Central America, its bottom has not been completely sounded. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 340 meters.
Around the lake is 10 villages, the two most visited villages are Panajachel, and Santiago Atitlan. Most tourist arrive by bus to Panajachel either from Guatemala City or Antigua. The best and easiest way to get the region is by bus from either one of these cities.
Here is a pretty detailed link to a listing of hotels and motels around the lake CLICK HERE
A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE LAKE REGION
In 1955, the area around Lago de Atitlán became a national park. The lake was mostly unknown to the rest of the world and Guatemala was seeking ways to increase tourism and boost the local economy.
It was suggested by Pan American World Airways that stocking the lake with a fish prized by anglers would be a way to do just that. So, a non-native species, the black bass was introduced into the lake in 1958.
The bass quickly took to its new home and began eating the native inhabitants of the lake. The predatory bass caused the elimination of more than two-thirds of the native fish species in the lake and contributed to the extinction of the giant grebe, a rare bird that lived only around the Lago de Atitlán region.
CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE
The lake is surrounded by many villages, in which Maya culture is still prevalent and traditional dress is worn. The Maya people of Atitlán are predominantly Tz’utujil and Kaqchikel. During the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the Kaqchikel initially allied themselves with the invaders to defeat their historic enemies the Tz’utujil and Quiché Maya, but were themselves conquered and subdued when they refused to pay tribute to the Spanish.
Santiago Atitlán is the largest of the lakeside communities , and is noted for its worship of Maximón, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends.
The institutionalized effigy of Maximón is under the control of a local religious brotherhood and resides in various houses of it’s membership during the course of a year, being most ceremonially moved in a grand procession during Semana Santa. Several towns in Guatemala have similar cults, most notably the cult of San Simón in Zuníl.
While Maya culture is predominant in most lakeside communities, the largest town on the shores, Panajachel, has been overwhelmed over the years by tourists. It attracted many hippies in the 1960s, and although the war caused many foreigners to leave, the end of hostilities in 1996 saw visitor numbers boom again, and the town’s economy is almost entirely reliant on tourism today.
In up coming post I will visit the villages that surround the lake, check back often for more updates..
Source of some information is from Wikipedia
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Panajachel is a beautiful city full of rich culture that sits on the banks of Lake Atitlan in the mountains of Guatemala. On any given day Panajachel is quite a cultural crossroads. Because of its natural beauty and culture, Guatemalans and visitors alike routinely come to Pana to enjoy Lake Atitlan, and many indigenous Guatemalans come to sell their goods.
With its abundance of accommodations, good restaurants and the beauty of Lake Atitlan, Panajachel is a great place to visit for the fair. Panajachel has a town fair every year in tribute to St. Francis of Assisi.
Actually, ferias are more of a combination of town fairs—with rides and vendors —and Catholic and/or Mayan ceremonies: dances, pyrotechnics, parades and processions.
Activities include parades of floats, allegorical parades and at least four processions of the statues of St. Francis and some of his helper saints to the church and to their cofradía houses. Sports competitions such as soccer matches are usually on the schedule as well. And for the very Catholic among us there are innumerable Masses and sermons. Panajachel is also very big on its beauty queens, who are extolled not only for their beauty, but also for their knowledge of Guatemalan culture, including traditional indigenous culture. The Panajachel fair includes several dances, concerts and parties in honor of the five representatives of La Belleza Panajachelense. The plaza in front of the Catholic church is usually the site of many concerts and folkloric performances throughout the week. And without a doubt, any and all of these activities are punctuated by fireworks.
During the fair, this is multiplied considerably. Since a fair is naturally the time to dress your best, people of many regions wear their finest, making the patrons as interesting as the performances.
While the fun aspects of the fair can seem like what it’s all about, it’s important to remember that many of the local people attend for solemn religious activities. Visitors should be aware of whether ceremonies are taking place nearby and should always be respectful, including wearing clothes that cover you from neck to knees.
SOURCE
Guatemala Bougainvilleas,
With the cobblestone streets, the Bougainvilleas (Bugambileas) busting with color sets this city off as one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. These gorgeous flowers can be found all over Guatemala. From the ancient city of Antigua to the mountain villages of Panajachel and Lake Atitlan to the coastline of the country, bougainvilleas can be found in red, violet, purple, fuchsia, red, orange, gold, yellow, pink, white, burgundy, terra cotta, kite red, and in light and dark shades of many of the aforementioned colors.
HISTORY OF THE BOUGAINVILLE
In 1768 when Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea began his long journey to the Pacific Ocean and discovered the vine that now bears his name, it was a botanical highlight of the voyage. Through the ensuing years, this Brazilian beauty has assumed its rightful place as one of the most popular, spectacular and beautiful tropical plants.
GROWING INFORMATION
BEST CLIMATE Bougainvilleas thrive in the low and intermediate deserts (Sunset climate zones 12-13) and in warm parts of California (zones 15-17, 19, and 21-24).
GROWING AREA Choose a full-sun location in a warm part of your garden (such as against a south-facing wall). Give white and yellow varieties light shade in hottest climates.
PLANTING Plant in fast-draining soil in late spring after danger of frost has passed. Bougainvillea roots do not knit together to form a firm root ball, and they are highly sensitive to disturbance. To minimize shock when planting, cut off the container bottom, then set the plant–still in its nursery pot–into the planting hole. Slidethe container up over the plant, filling in the planting hole with soil as you go. Once the pot is above the root-ball, you can cut it along one side to split the pot and remove it without disturbing foliage. Train large bougainvilleas onto sturdy arbors that can hold the vines’ weight. Canes need to be tied.
WATER Keep soil moist. Once established, larger varieties growing in the ground need little irrigation except during the hottest months.
FERTILIZER Feed container plants a balanced liquid fertilizer according to label instructions. In-ground plants need little or no fertilizer; excess nitrogen tends to produce lush foliage and fewer bracts.
PRUNING Pinch or cut back in spring and as needed to control and direct growth. (Leave cold-nipped foliage on the plant until frost danger has passed.) Prune dwarf varieties lightly; large, vigorous vines severely.
 Bougainvillea
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