| Lagunas are one of the anchors of attractions in Los Tuxtlas. From mystic Laguna Catemaco to jungle rimmed Laguna Escondida and the mangroves of Laguna Sontecomapan, the Tuxtlas have an amazing variety of aquatic paradises. The terms laguna (lagoon) and lago (lake) are used interchangeably in Mexican Spanish to the distress of nit pickers. Not all of the Tuxtlas lagunas are crater lakes. Most of their depth is relatively shallow. The deepest is 100 feet, (30 meters). Extremely shallow Laguna Sontecomapan is a true lagoon with access to the Gulf of Mexico. Laguna Catemaco was created when lava flow obstructed a valley. Some are only seasonal watering holes. But many others are possibly collapsed cones of small volcanoes now filled with water. Unfortunately, many of the smaller lakes are inaccessible. From Catemaco though, Lagunas Chalchoapan, Ampopal, Encantada, Amolapan and Escondida are within easy reach. The Tuxtlas lakes retain the region's history. Studies of laguna sediment cores have demonstrated 5000 years of agricultural activity in Los Tuxtlas. |
| Lakes and Lagunas |
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| Laguna Amolapan |
| Location: Catemaco, Veracruz, Access: 1 mile north of city on Catemaco -Sontecomapan highway Name: Nahuatl " Size: 1 ha, Depth: 13m, Altitude: 400m Water Quality: eutrophic More info: catemaco. info |
| Location: Catemaco, Veracruz, Access: 1 mile south of city on Catemaco - Acayucan highway Name: Nahuatl "Emerald Waters" Size: 590m x 570 m, app 3.4 hectares, Depth: max. 43m, avg 23m, Altitude: xxm Water Quality: eutrophic More info: catemaco.info |
| Location: San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, Access: off Veracruz - Acayucan highway Name: Spanish "Bewitched Lake", also known as Yambigapan Water Quality: eutrophic More info: catemaco.info |
| Location: San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, Access: 1 mile off Catemaco - Montepio highway, near Biological station Size: ?? ha, Depth: ?? m , Altitude: Water Quality: eutrophic More info: catemaco.info |
| Location: San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, Access: 1/4 mile off El Tropico - Montepio highway, nearLa Nueva Victoria Size: ?? ha, Depth: ?? m , Altitude: Water Quality: eutrophic More info: catemaco.info |
| Location: Catemaco, Veracruz, Access: 1 mile northwest of city off Catemaco -Sontecomapan highway Name: Nahuatl " Water Quality: eutrophic More info: catemaco.info |
| Laguna del Ostion |
| Location: Pajapan, Veracruz, Access: End of Acayucan - Playa Jicacal highway Name: Spanish "Oyster Lagoon" Size: ?? ha, Depth: ??m, Altitude: sealevel Water Quality: brackish |
| Laguna de Sontecomapan |
| Location: Catemaco, Veracruz, Access: Catemaco - Sontecomapan highway, 18 miles north of Catemaco City Water Quality: brackish More info: Laguna Sontecomapan |
| Lago Apompal |
| Location: Ejido Miguel Hidalgo, Catemaco, Veracruz, Access: Off Catemaco - La Margarita road, '' miles northeast of Catemaco City Name: Nahuatl " " Water Quality: ? More info: Miguel Hidalgo Ecotourism |
| Other Lakes |
| Laguna de Catemaco |
| Location: Catemaco, Veracruz, Access: off Catemaco - Acayucan highway Name: Nahuatl " " Size: ?? ha, Depth: ??m, Altitude: 340m Water Quality: eutrophic More info: Laguna Catemaco |
| There are dozens of small lakes hidden in Los Tuxtlas, but most are almost inaccessible to sensible travelers. Laguna Marquez Laguna Verde Laguna Mojo Laguna Zapotal, etc. .....For a while I thought Volcano San Martin Tuxtla might have a small crater lake. "Como resultado de la porosidad de la lava y de las capas de ceniza presentes en el área no hay arroyos cercanos a la zona del volcán. El cuerpo de agua permanente ubicado a mayor altitud (1,250 m) es un aguaje localizado al lado sur del volcán." So I climbed up. There is no permanent water presence in the crater. |
| Los Tuxtlas Geography Veracruz, México |
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| Laguna Chalchoapan |
| Laguna Encantada |
| Laguna Escondida |
| Laguna Majahual |
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