Tota Lake

Abstract

Tota Lake, the largest in Colombia, is a high mountain depression located at 3000 m a.s.l. Its origin is due to geologic and geomorphic processes, which occurred since the beginning of the Eastern Cordillera uplift and the formation of an elongated closed basin associated to folding and inverse faulting with the SW–NE direction and a preferential vergence to the SE. The final process was the emplacement of large fluvioglacial deposits during the last deglaciation of the surrounding mountains, which reach altitudes of 3800 m a.s.l. The lake drains toward the Oriental plains and is one of the Upía River sources. A concrete dam was built to control the lake level. Due to the quality of its landscape and its ecological, environmental and social function, as well as the present impacts produced by human activities that may have negative consequences on its sustainability, Tota has been included in the list of Ramsar International Convention of important wetlands in Colombia.