Laguna Colorada
| Laguna Colorada | |
|---|---|
View of Laguna Colorada in 2014 | |
Laguna Colorada Laguna Colorada | |
| Location | Potosí, Bolivia |
| Coordinates | 22°11′55″S 67°46′52″W / 22.19861°S 67.78111°W |
| Type | salt lake |
| Primary inflows | Rio Sulor |
| Basin countries | Bolivia |
| Max. length | 10.7 km (6.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 9.6 km (6.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 60 km2 (23 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 0.35 m (1 ft 2 in) |
| Max. depth | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Shore length1 | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 4,278 m (14,035 ft) |
| Islands | numerous, sometimes huge borax deposit islands |
| Official name | Los Lípez |
| Designated | 27 June 1990 |
| Reference no. | 489 |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Laguna Colorada | |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Laguna Colorada, (translated to Red Lagoon), is a shallow, hypersaline lake in the remote southwestern region of the Altiplano, within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia and located at an elevation of approximately 4,278 metres (14,000 ft) above sea level. In 1990, the lake was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The Laguna Colorada is characterized by its vivid crimson coloration caused by a combination of red sediments and the proliferation of pigmented algae adapted to saline environments, mainly the Dunaliella salina species. The intensity of its coloration, ranging from soft pink tones to deep red, varies depending on the accumulation of algae, sunlight and temperature conditions. Across its surface, the Laguna Colorada contrasts with white islands formed by borax deposits.
Ecologically, the lagoon is a crucial habitat and a primary breeding ground for the several species of flamingos, including the Andean, Chilean and James's flamingos. The abundance of plankton within the lake provides a primary food source for these species, contributing to their distinctive pink plumage. The arid ecosystem surrounding the Laguna Colorada sustains other fauna adapted to high-altitude environments such as the Andean mountain cat, the Andean fox, vicuñas and domesticated llamas.