Lake Atitlán is a large volcanic lake in the Guatemalan Highlands, in the department of Sololá in southwestern Guatemala. Surrounded by steep mountains, three prominent volcanoes and predominantly Maya communities, it is one of Guatemala's most distinctive natural and cultural landscapes.
The lake occupies part of a massive volcanic caldera formed by an enormous eruption approximately 84,000 years ago. Its surface lies about 1,560 meters (5,120 feet) above sea level, and the lake reaches a maximum depth of approximately 340 meters (1,120 feet), making it the deepest lake in Central America.
Location
Lake Atitlán lies approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Guatemala City. The lake is roughly 18 kilometers (11 miles) long and 8 kilometers (5 miles) wide, although its irregular shoreline makes simple measurements approximate. The surrounding terrain is exceptionally steep. Mountains rise rapidly from the shoreline, while volcanoes dominate the southern horizon.
Volcanic Origins
Lake Atitlán exists because of a long and violent history of volcanic activity. The region is part of the Central American Volcanic Arc, created by the movement of tectonic plates along the Pacific margin of Central America. Approximately 84,000 years ago, the enormous Los Chocoyos eruption expelled vast quantities of volcanic material. The collapse associated with this eruption created a huge caldera. Water subsequently accumulated within the depression, producing the lake seen today. Later volcanic activity created the three major volcanoes that now dominate its southern shore.
The Three Volcanoes
Three prominent volcanoes surround the southern portion of Lake Atitlán: Volcán Atitlán rises to approximately 3,535 meters (11,598 feet). It is the highest of the three and is considered an active stratovolcano. Volcán Tolimán, approximately 3,158 meters (10,361 feet) high, stands immediately north of Volcán Atitlán. Volcán San Pedro, approximately 3,020 meters (9,908 feet) high, rises dramatically from the southwestern shore. Together, the volcanoes create the distinctive landscape for which Lake Atitlán is famous.
A Lake Without a Major Surface Outlet
One of Lake Atitlán's unusual characteristics is that it has no major visible surface outlet. Water enters through rainfall, streams and runoff from the surrounding watershed. Much of the water that leaves the lake appears to do so through evaporation and underground seepage through the volcanic and fractured geological formations surrounding the basin. As a result, the lake's level can fluctuate considerably in response to rainfall and other environmental conditions.
Maya History
The Lake Atitlán region has been inhabited by Maya peoples for centuries. At the time of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century, the region was associated principally with several Maya groups, particularly the Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel. The political landscape was complex. Maya groups around the lake formed alliances, competed with one another and interacted with larger political powers elsewhere in the Guatemalan Highlands.
Underwater Archaeology
Lake Atitlán also has an important archaeological dimension. Underwater investigations have identified submerged archaeological remains, including the site commonly known as Samabaj. The site was discovered beneath the lake near the southern portion of Atitlán and contains structures and artifacts associated with Maya occupation. Archaeological research indicates that the settlement was occupied roughly between 400 BC and AD 250, during the Maya Preclassic and Early Classic transition. The rising waters of Lake Atitlán eventually submerged the site. Researchers have identified architectural remains including ceremonial structures, plazas and other features beneath the lake.
Samabaj
Samabaj is particularly intriguing because it provides evidence that changes in Lake Atitlán's water level altered the human landscape around the lake. The ancient settlement was constructed when the water level was lower than it is today. As the lake rose, the site became submerged and was eventually abandoned. Its preservation beneath the water gives archaeologists an unusual opportunity to investigate Maya occupation of the Atitlán basin. The discovery also demonstrates that the modern shoreline does not necessarily correspond with the shoreline experienced by ancient inhabitants.
Why Lake Atitlán Is Important
Lake Atitlán is significant because several different histories converge there. Geologically, it is the product of one of Central America's enormous prehistoric volcanic events. Environmentally, it is a deep highland lake surrounded by an unusually diverse volcanic landscape. Culturally, it has been home to Maya communities for centuries and remains an important center of Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel culture.
Archaeologically, the submerged site of Samabaj provides physical evidence that the lake itself has changed substantially during the period of human occupation