United States: The distress signals are sounding for Lake Titicaca, echoing climate change concerns and its repercussions. Reuters spotlighted Manuel Flores, a local farmer, who voiced apprehension about exposed, cracked sections of the lake’s floor.
Lake Titicaca stands as the largest freshwater expanse in South America and the world’s highest navigable lake, nestled amid the Andes mountains.
As detailed by the news agency, Flores and fellow locals grapple with desiccated wells and withered crops amidst a prolonged drought. Speaking with Reuters, Flores noted that communities residing on the lake’s shores once relied on boats for transportation, but now they traverse the dried-up lake bed on foot.
Fredy Aruquipa, overseeing Lake Titicaca, conveyed to Reuters that he witnesses the decline daily, stating, “The water is going down centimeter by centimeter.”
Lake Titicaca – a Crucial Hub for Wildlife
Reports from Reuters emphasize that the lake plays a vital role as an ecosystem for regional wildlife, flora, and fauna. Additionally, it serves as a crucial water source for nearby residents, including those in the city of El Alto.
El Nino Aggravates Lake Titicaca’s Water Levels
According to scientists, the lake’s water levels have plummeted to record lows, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. This phenomenon, linked to climate change, results in reduced rainfall, leading to prolonged and severe dry spells.
Farmer Flores shared his experience, stating, “I am 50 years old. Never before has Lake Titicaca dried up like it is now. This affects us because there is no more food for our livestock, and we cannot travel by boat.” He added, “Now we have to walk, and our crops no longer exist because it hasn’t rained since last year.”
Concerns Escalate Over Drought Conditions
Farmers and experts express alarm about the escalating drought conditions, reaching critical levels that impact agricultural practices. A farmer noted that the absence of early December rainfall could result in the inability to plant potatoes, a staple for Bolivia’s rural communities.
Experts attribute the declining water levels to factors such as reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, and the retreat of Andean glaciers – a primary water source for the lake, according to Reuters.
Moreover, multiple experts underscore that climate change is a key driver behind Lake Titicaca’s contraction.
Insights from Experts
According to reports, Xavier Lazzaro, an aquatic systems specialist with the French Research Institute IRD, asserted, “Ninety-five percent of the water loss from the lake is due to evaporation, which shows that this is totally or almost totally caused by climate change.”
MapBiomas Agua, overseeing changes in water bodies, reported a 39 percent drop in rivers and lagoons in Bolivia. This decline aligns with the global rise in temperatures, impacting rivers, lakes, and glaciers from the United States to Asia.
Rodney Camargo from the local NGO Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN) acknowledged the multifaceted causes, stating, “There are many factors, many causes: deforestation, fires, human activity, large dams, which have an effect. In global terms, we have climate change and phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina, which cause floods and droughts,” as per Reuters.