Izabal lake
| Izabal lake | ||
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| Izabal lake | ||
| Geographical location | Izabal , Guatemala | |
| Tributaries | Río Polochic | |
| Drain | Río Dulce | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 15 ° 30 ′ N , 89 ° 11 ′ W | |
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| Altitude above sea level | 1.5 m | |
| surface | 589.6 km² | |
| length | 48 km | |
| width | 20 km | |
| Maximum depth | 18 m | |
The Izabal Lake ( Spanish Lago de Izabal , formerly Golfo Dulce ) is the largest lake in Guatemala . The lake is 48 km long and at its widest point up to 20 km wide and is located near the Caribbean Sea, with which it is connected by the Río Dulce , the mouth of which is located directly on the south side of Livingston .
The fish-rich Lake Izabal has an area of 589.6 km² and is up to 18 m deep. The most important tributary is the Río Polochic in the west . The lake, which is connected to the open sea, has always had a special meaning for shipping and thus for trade. The Spanish colonial rulers repeatedly had to defend themselves against attacks by British pirates and for this reason built the Castillo de San Felipe de Lara at a narrow part of the lake at the northeastern end . The lake and its surroundings are of major tourist interest today. There are several nature reserves. At the north-western end of the lake is the place El Estor, from which there is the only road connection to Alta Verapaz in central Guatemala. There is regular shipping only from El Relleno to Livingston, but not across the lake itself. The connections from Livingston via El Relleno (or Castillo San Felipe ) to El Estor are operated by a few private boat owners.
Due to the direction of the wind, the lake is severely affected by water hyacinths on its eastern side . It is home to a large number of manatees , which - like bull sharks - cross the Río Dulce from the Caribbean Sea to the lake.
Satellite image of the lake
Lago Izabal around 1840
Hotel on the lakefront
