Lake Conococha

Lake Conococha is a South American lake located in the Andes mountains of northwestern Peru. It is located in the region of Ancash near the junction of the roads going from Callejón de Huaylas to Chiquián.

Geography

Lake Conococha has an elevation of above sea level and an extension of. It is located at the headwaters of the Santa River which runs in a northwest direction from the lake.
According to the Köppen climate classification, the area presents a tundra climate ; with a mean annual temperature of 4.7 °C and an average annual rainfall of 543 mm.
The village of Conococha is located on the western shore of the lake, where the roads from Lima and Pativilca to Huaraz and Chiquián meet.

Ecology

Flora

Aquatic vegetation on the shores is represented by reeds of Scirpus spp. and aquatic herbs like watercress, Elodea potamogeton and Myriophyllum sp. While the surrounding meadows include plants of genera Carex and Calamagrostis.

Fauna

The lake is home to a frog species discovered in 1996 and endemic of the Santa River basin.

Environmental issues

Lake Conococha is undergoing a process of eutrophication, being the main reasons: livestock raising, blackwater from the surrounding villages, and disposal of solid waste on the lake shores.