Lake Titicaca, the largest and highest lake in South America, is facing a serious threat from climate change.
The lake, which lies on the border between Bolivia and Peru, has seen its water levels drop to near-record lows in recent years, affecting the livelihoods and culture of the people who depend on it.
The causes and consequences of the water crisis
AIZAR RALDES/AFP via Getty Images
According to Lucia Walper, the chief forecaster for Bolivia's weather service (Senhami), the main cause of the lake's water decline is the lack of rainfall in the region.
Walper said that the lake's level has been progressively decreasing due to many meteorological, hydrological and climatic factors.
She also pointed out that the phenomena of El Niño and La Niña, which are associated with changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, have been presenting a distortion in their parameters and factors over time.
The lake's water level is currently within 10 inches (25 centimeters) of its all-time low, a record set in 19962.
Along what was once the 700-mile shoreline of the lake, one now sees boats stranded on dry land and orphan docks stretched over nonexistent water.
The lake, which once had a surface area of 3,200 square miles (8,300 square kilometers), has shrunk significantly, although a satellite survey has not been made yet to measure the extent of the loss.
The low water level has serious implications for the biodiversity and ecosystem of the lake, as well as for the economic and social well-being of the people who live around it.
The lake is home to more than 500 species of animals and plants, many of which are endemic and endangered.
It also provides water for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, tourism, fishing and cultural activities for millions of people in both countries.
The reduced water availability has affected the fish population and reproduction, as well as the quality and quantity of crops that depend on irrigation from the lake.
The fishermen and farmers who rely on the lake for their income have seen their livelihoods threatened by the water crisis.
Moreover, the lake has a deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Indigenous people of the region, who consider it as a sacred source of life and identity.
The loss of water also means the loss of their ancestral traditions and practices.
The governments of Bolivia and Peru have been working together to address the water crisis and to protect the lake from further degradation.
They have signed several agreements and initiatives to monitor, conserve and restore the lake's water level and quality.
Projects to improve water management, sanitation, irrigation efficiency and alternative livelihoods for the local communities have also been implemented.
However, these efforts face many challenges and limitations. One of them is the lack of sufficient funding and technical capacity to implement and sustain the projects.
Another is the lack of coordination and cooperation among different stakeholders, such as local authorities, civil society organizations, private sector actors and international donors.
A third challenge is the uncertainty and complexity of climate change impacts, which require adaptive and flexible responses that can cope with changing scenarios.
Walper said that the outlook for Lake Titicaca is not good, and that it is very probable that the water levels will keep falling until they hit even lower levels.
She warned that if no urgent actions are taken to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its effects, the lake could face a catastrophic scenario in the future.
Walper is calling for more awareness and action from both governments and citizens to save Lake Titicaca from disappearing.
She further siad that everyone has a responsibility to protect this natural treasure that is not only a source of life but also a symbol of culture and history for both countries.
