| Information |
| Laguna Catemaco is surrounded by foothills of Volcano San Martín Tuxtla and the Sierra Santa Marta. In colloquial Spanish, the words laguna (lagoon) and lago (lake) are used interchangeably. The Laguna is not a crater lake. The lake was formed eons ago, when lava flow from Volcano San Martín Tuxtla blocked its current northern shore near Coyame, and now stands at 1,115 feet above sea level. The lake is shallow, averaging 25 feet, with a maximum depth of 72 feet located in the channel between Isla Agaltepec and the city of Catemaco. The laguna drains via the Rio Grande de Catemaco towards Alvarado and the Gulf coast and its water level is controlled by a sluice gate which replaced a historic waterfall. |
| Laguna Catemaco is one of the more productive lakes in Mexico. Large netting is prohibited to assure the livelihood of almost 2000 registered fishermen and their catch of almost 2000 tons. A perch like fish introduced from Africa (Mojarra Tilapia), a sardine like Topote, and the snail Tegogolo are the most common catches. Prevailing climate around the Laguna is hot and humid with average temperature of 76f. Rainfall varies seasonally with averages of 81 inches recorded at Catemaco and more than double that at Coyame (northeast of the laguna). March to early June is the dry season and the water levels drop three to five feet. |
| Lake Catemaco has a surface area of 28 square miles, is almost square with maximum width and axis of a little more than 6.2 miles. The laguna is Mexico´s #18 in size of water bodies, The shoreline is irregular, with remnants of several volcanic cones and its perimeter is about 31 miles. There are several volcanic islands within the lake. Several of these islands hold Macaque monkeys, previously imported from Thailand for an abandoned research project. The presence of the monkeys has led to almost 100 small boats rushing across the lake to show tourists these immigrant monkeys. The University of Veracruz maintains a current research project of Mexican Howler monkeys on Isla Agaltepec which is closed to casual visitors. |
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| Winds from the Gulf of Mexico enter the Catemaco laguna watershed to the north of the town of Coyame, and cross the lake in a NE-SW direction, blowing strongly over the lake throughout the year. From February to October, northeast winds are dominant. Colder and faster northern winds blow from November to January. Plans for a sail boat marina are in the talking stage. |
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| Links |
| Major Laguna Catemaco Studies UNAM 1985- Diversidad y Abundancia del Plancton en la Laguna de Catemaco UNAM 1991- Geomorfologia y Batrimetia del Lago de Catemaco BIOLOGIA TROPICAL 1993- Species composition, abundance and distribution of zooplankton in Lake Catemaco UNAM 1994- Los Sedimentos Recientes del Lago de Catemaco Abstract 2001- Steady state of phytoplankton assemblage in the tropical Lake Catemaco SEMARNAT 2002- Calidad del agua del Lago Catemaco conforme a parametros... 1990-2001 COFEMER 2004- Proyecto de Norma - Pesca responsable en el lago Catemaco NALMS - definition of terms used in lake studies |
| another study: Estudio sistematico de metales pesados en maleza nociva que se desarolla el el Lago de Catemaco, Veracruz, autor: Maria Josefina Paredes Gonzalez, clave: 2004.09.61, which is used by the Laguna fishermen and tour boat operators as the basis for the "Laguna is NOT contaminated" articles, is not accessible on the internet (2009). |
| Population |
| Aside from the city of Catemaco with more than 26,000 inhabitants, almost 6,000 more people live along the shores of Laguna Catemaco in 8 substantial population centers. Most are dedicated to fishing. None of the 8 have public drainage facilities. For more info about many of these villages, please open Laguna Pueblos. |
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| Slideshow |
| Laguna Catemaco Catemaco, Veracruz |
| Surface: 73 km² Depth: maximum 22m, average 7.6 m, center 11m Sizes: maximum width 10,250 m, length 12,320 m Shape: elliptical bowl Perimeter: 49,754 m Volume: 553 millon cubic meters Watershed: app. 323 km² |