| Laguna Catemaco is a lake situated 12 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, in east central Mexico in the southeast of the state of Veracruz. Volcanic eruptions blocked the valley of Catemaco eons ago and created the lake at 1,115 feet above sea level. Today the lake is fed by mountain streams descending from the surrounding foothills of the Sierra Santa Marta and runoff from the northern volcanic fringe. In colloquial Spanish, the words laguna (lagoon) and lago (lake) are used interchangeably except in scientific matters. 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. |
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| Laguna Catemaco is one of the more productive lakes in Mexico. Large netting is prohibited to assure the livelihood of more than 1500 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, #7 in size of lakes and lagunas, #3 in size of true lakes. 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. |
| 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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| articles |
| data |
| another study: Estudio sistematico de metales pesados en maleza nociva que se desarolla el el Lago de Catemaco, fishermen and tour boat operators as the basis for the "Laguna is NOT contaminated" articles, is not accessible on the internet (2009). |
| Aside from the city of Catemaco with more than 26,000 inhabitants (2005), almost 6,000 more people live along the shores of Laguna Catemaco in 8 significant population centers. Most are dedicated to fishing. None of the 8 have public drainage facilities. The economy is mainly focused on fishing and cattle. For more info about many of these villages, please open Laguna Catemaco Pueblos. |
| catemaco.info links |
| population |
| the world according to Don Gringo, a 21st century explorer |
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| Laguna Catemaco Catemaco, Veracruz |
| Type: lake formed by volcanic eruptions closing a valley between the volcanoes Santa Marta and San Martin, Name: various interpretations, most popular but unlikely: place of the burned houses, Surface: 73 km² Depth: maximum 22m, average 7.6 m, center 11 m, Size: maximum width 10,250 m, length 12,320 m, app. 120 km2 Shape: elliptical bowl, Perimeter: 49,754 m, Volume: 553 millon cubic meters, Watershed: app. 323 km² Water Quality: eutrophic, murky, Altitude: 340 m, Access: shores of the city of Catemaco and various surrounding locations. |
| Important 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 UAM 2009- Estudio sobre la contaminación en el Lago de Catemaco UAM 2009- Propuesta Preliminar para un plan de manejo participativo del lago de Catemaco |
| Other studies, not available in the internet IPN 2003 - Microbiología del lago de Catemaco IPN 2004 -Estudio sistematico de metales pesados en maleza nociva que se desarolla el el Lago de Catemaco |
| For visitor information you are better off clicking tourism above. The following pages are not particularly interesting for short term tourists. |
| external links |
| For all the information about the Laguna attractions, see: Catemaco - Attractions |
| For photos of Laguna Catemaco and the coast, see Catemaco - Photos |