Lago San Pablo
| Lago San Pablo | ||
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| Lago San Pablo | ||
| Geographical location | Imbabura Province , Ecuador | |
| Tributaries | Jatunyacu | |
| Drain | Jatunyacu → Río Napo | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 0 ° 12 '21 " N , 78 ° 13' 9" W | |
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| Altitude above sea level | 2660 m | |
| surface | 1.8 km² | |
The San Pablo Lake or Imbacocha , Spanish Lago San Pablo , Kichwa : Impakucha ("lake of the Andean climbing catfish " : impa "Andean climbing catfish " , kucha "lake") is located in the Imbabura province in northern Ecuador , at 2,660 m above sea level, below the Imbabura volcano , has a water surface of approximately 1.8 km² and is of volcanic origin.
A lava flow blocked the natural drainage of the valley to the north and thus created the hollow shape that the lake still partially occupies today. Over time, the Jatunyacu River ( Hatunyaku , "big water"), which drains it, has created an overflow breakthrough valley , a so-called Klus , and gradually lowered the lake level to its current level. Extensive areas covered with the totora reed are evidence of the silting process.
The predominant fish species in Lake Imbakucha used to be the Andean climbing catfish (Astroblepus ubidiai) , a small black fish with good climbing ability. In 1964 the fish-eating largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) was introduced. Since then, the population of Andean climbing catfish has decreased significantly.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Luis A. Vélez-Espino (2006): Distribution and habitat suitability index model for the Andean catfish Astroblepus ubidiai (Pisces: Siluriformes) in Ecuador. Revista de Biología Tropical 54 (2). San José 2006. ISSN 0034-7744
Web links
- Casallas G., JE, et G. Gunkel, Algunos aspectos limnologicos de un lago altoandino: el lago San Pablo, Ecuador (PDF; 802 kB), Limnética , 20 , 215–232