Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The geography and climate of Bolivia has led to the formation a wide variety of lakes, from salt saturated lakes in the Altiplano to oxbow lakes in the eastern lowlands. Many of Bolivias lakes are formed only seasonally during the austral summer and remains for the rest of the year as salt flats in the altiplano or swamps in the eastern lowlands.
Lakes in the Altiplano basin All major lakes in the Altiplano belong to the same endorheic basin that when supplied with enough water ends at Salar de Uyuni . Many of the lakes in the altiplano show large fluctuations in area like Poopó Lake that has dried up several times through history. The salt flats of Coipasa and Uyuni have only very small surfaces where water can be observed through all year but are covered each year in summer by up to one meter of water.
Lakes with an area of more than 100 km2 in the Altiplano
Name
Area (km2 )
Surface elevation
Max depth
Salinity
Titicaca 3,790[i 1]
3,810 m.a.s.l.
281 m
Brackish
Poopó Lake 1,000
3,686 m.a.s.l.
Brackish
Salar de Coipasa 2,218
3,657 m.a.s.l.
-
Saturated in salt
Salar de Uyuni 10,582
3,663 m.a.s.l.
-
Saturated in salt
Uru Uru 214
3,686 m.a.s.l.
1.5 m
Brackish to salt
Lakes in the lowlands
Lakes in the lowlands with an area of more than 100 km2
Name
Area
Surface elevation
Max depth
Salinity
Huaytunas 329.5 km2
146 m.a.s.l.
-
Fresh
Rogaguado 315 km2
143 m.a.s.l.
-
Fresh
Rogagua 155.6 km2
164 m.a.s.l.
-
Fresh
Guachuna 102.8 km2
150 m.a.s.l.
-
Fresh
El Océano 100 km2
-
-
Fresh
Lakes by department
Name
Elevation
Area
Department
Achiri Lake 3,876 m (12,717 ft)
2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi)
La Paz
Alalay Lake 3,686 m (12,093 ft)
2.4 km2 (0.93 sq mi)
Cochabamba
Allqa Quta 4,537 m (14,885 ft)
La Paz
Aquiles Lake 224 m (735 ft)
19 km2 (7.3 sq mi)
Beni
Araré Lake 160 m (520 ft)
68 km2 (26 sq mi)
Beni
Aricare Lake 180 m (590 ft)
10.33 km2 (3.99 sq mi)
Beni
Awallamaya Lake 3,825 m (12,549 ft)
96 km2 (37 sq mi)
La Paz
Bahia Toco Largo Lake 165 m (541 ft)
6.5 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Bellavista Lake 200 m (660 ft)
24.8 km2 (9.6 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Bolivia Lake 166 m (545 ft)
11 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Beni
Bravo Lake 167 m (548 ft)
25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi)
Beni
Buenos Aires Lake (Bolivia) 206 m (676 ft)
7.6 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Beni
Cáceres Lake 150 m (490 ft)
26.5 to 200 km2 (10.2 to 77.2 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Cacha Lake 4,670 m (15,320 ft)
0.72 km2 (0.28 sq mi)
La Paz
Cachimbo Lake 196 m (643 ft)
26.56 km2 (10.25 sq mi)
Beni
Carreras Lake 135 m (443 ft)
13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Beni
Ch'alla Quta ≈ 4,700 m (15,400 ft)
La Paz
Chaplín Lake 190 m (620 ft)
13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Chilata Lake 5,030 m (16,500 ft)
0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi)
La Paz
Chillwa Quta ≈ 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
La Paz
Ch'iyar Quta (La Paz) 4,700 m (15,400 ft)
La Paz
Ch'uxña Quta (Charasani) 4,454 m (14,613 ft)
La Paz
Ch'uxña Quta (Curva) 5,543 m (18,186 ft)
La Paz
Ch'uxña Quta (Murillo) 4,960 m (16,270 ft)
La Paz
Coipasa Lake 3,657 m (11,998 ft)
806 km2 (311 sq mi)
Oruro
Cololo Lake 4,538 m (14,888 ft)
5.2 km2 (2.0 sq mi)
La Paz
Colorado Lake 4,278 m (14,035 ft)
15.93 km2 (6.15 sq mi)
Beni
Concepción Lake 248 m (814 ft)
158 km2 (61 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Consuelo Lake 2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Corani Lake 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi)
Cochabamba
Coranto Lake 4,382 m (14,377 ft)
7.6 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Potosí
Coruto Lake 4,505 m (14,780 ft)
15.8 km2 (6.1 sq mi)
Potosí
El Encanto Lake 170 m (560 ft)
4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Beni
El Océano Lake 100 km2 (39 sq mi)
Beni
El Triunfo Lake 19.3 km2 (7.5 sq mi)
Beni
España Lake 34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Francia Lake 5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Beni
Guachuna Lake 150 m (490 ft)
102.8 km2 (39.7 sq mi)
Beni
Guayaques Lake 1.43 km2 (0.55 sq mi)
Potosí
Huachi Lake 173 m (568 ft)
67 km2 (26 sq mi)
Beni
Huaytunas Lake 146 m (479 ft)
329.5 km2 (127.2 sq mi)
Beni
Isirere Lake 258 m (846 ft)
19.3 km2 (7.5 sq mi)
Beni
Jach'a Quta (Aroma) La Paz
Jach'a Quta (Murillo) 3,760 m (12,340 ft)
La Paz
Jach'a Quta (Sud Yungas) La Paz
Janq'u Qala Lake 4,489 m (14,728 ft)
La Paz
Janq'u Quta (Batallas) 4,940 m (16,210 ft)
La Paz
Janq'u Quta (El Alto) 4,664 m (15,302 ft)
1.8 km2 (0.69 sq mi)
La Paz
Janq'u Quta (Larecaja) La Paz
Jara Lake 191 m (627 ft)
16.5 km2 (6.4 sq mi)
Beni
Jayu Quta (Carangas) 7.83 km2 (3.02 sq mi)
Oruro
Juri Quta (Batallas) 4,596 m (15,079 ft)
La Paz
Juri Quta (Pukarani) 4,932 m (16,181 ft)
La Paz
Kalina Lake 4,525 m (14,846 ft)
20.6 km2 (8.0 sq mi)
Potosí
Kara Lake 4,522 m (14,836 ft)
13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Potosí
K'ayrani Quta La Paz
K'iski Quta La Paz
La Angostura Lake 2,700 m (8,900 ft)
10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
Cochabamba
La Gaiba Lake 160 m (520 ft)
98 km2 (38 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
La Laguna Lake 2,926 m (9,600 ft)
7.8 km2 (3.0 sq mi)
Chuquisaca
La Porfía Lake 58.5 km2 (22.6 sq mi)
Beni
La Sarca Lake 136 m (446 ft)
26 km2 (10 sq mi)
Beni
Laguna Azul (Bolivia) 6.1 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Beni
Laguna Celeste 4,529 m (14,859 ft)
2.3 km2 (0.89 sq mi)
Potosí
Laguna Glaciar 5,038 m (16,529 ft)
0.2 km2 (0.077 sq mi)
La Paz
Laguna Grande (Bolivia) 3,638 m (11,936 ft)
6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
Tarija
Laguna Hedionda (Sud Lípez) 4,532 m (14,869 ft)
3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Potosí
Laguna Larga (Bolivia) 148 m (486 ft)
100 km2 (39 sq mi)
Beni
Laguna Verde (Beni) 175 m (574 ft)
4.53 km2 (1.75 sq mi)
Beni
Laguna Verde (Comarapa) 2,419 m (7,936 ft)
0.002 km2 (0.00077 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Laguna Victoria 201 m (659 ft)
25 km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Beni
Laram Quta (El Alto) 4,556 m (14,948 ft)
La Paz
Laram Quta (Inquisivi) 4,862 m (15,951 ft)
La Paz
Laram Quta (La Paz) La Paz
Laram Quta (Los Andes) 3,850 m (12,630 ft)
La Paz
Laram Quta (Sud Yungas) La Paz
Larati Lake 3,585 m (11,762 ft)
1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi)
Cochabamba
Las Habras Lake 136 m (446 ft)
73 km2 (28 sq mi)
Beni
Lawrawani Lake 4,475 m (14,682 ft)
La Paz
Luru Mayu Lake 4,666 m (15,308 ft)
12 km2 (4.6 sq mi)
Potosí
Mancornadas Lake 163 m (535 ft)
74.16 km2 (28.63 sq mi)
Beni
Mandioré Lake 90 m (300 ft)
152 km2 (59 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Maracaibo Lake (Bolivia) 177 m (581 ft)
15.8 km2 (6.1 sq mi)
Beni
Marfil Lake 246 m (807 ft)
97.5 km2 (37.6 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Matuwal Lake 6.83 km2 (2.64 sq mi)
Beni
Mentiroso Lake 140 m (460 ft)
6.9 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Pando
Milluni Lake 4,565 m (14,977 ft)
2.37 km2 (0.92 sq mi)
La Paz
Mirim Lake (Bolivia) 15.8 km2 (6.1 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Murillo Lake 140 m (460 ft)
7.6 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Pando
Navidad Lake 160 m (520 ft)
22.5 km2 (8.7 sq mi)
Beni
Nuevo Mundo Lake 180 m (590 ft)
57.7 km2 (22.3 sq mi)
Beni
Omoro Lake 193 m (633 ft)
6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Beni
Pajaral Lake 200 m (660 ft)
9.3 km2 (3.6 sq mi)
Beni
Parina Quta (Bolivia-Peru) 4,216 m (13,832 ft)
La Paz
Parina Quta (Oruro) 3,753 m (12,313 ft)
Oruro
Pastos Grandes Lake 4,330 m (14,210 ft)
120 km2 (46 sq mi)
Potosí
Phaq'u Quta 4,667 m (15,312 ft)
La Paz
Pistola Lake 33.52 km2 (12.94 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Portia Lake 200 m (660 ft)
28 km2 (11 sq mi)
Beni
Q'ara Quta (La Paz) 4,400 m (14,400 ft)
La Paz
Rodeo Lake 3,485 m (11,434 ft)
0.2 km2 (0.077 sq mi)
Cochabamba
Rogagua Lake 155 km2 (60 sq mi)
Beni
Sajama Lake 0.3 km2 (0.12 sq mi)
Oruro
San Antonio Lake (Bolivia) 205 m (673 ft)
26 km2 (10 sq mi)
Beni
San Francisco Lake 138 m (453 ft)
12.7 km2 (4.9 sq mi)
Beni
San Jorge Lake 160 m (520 ft)
68.6 km2 (26.5 sq mi)
Beni
San José Lake 202 m (663 ft)
14.7 km2 (5.7 sq mi)
Beni
San Lorenzo Lake 178 m (584 ft)
26.2 km2 (10.1 sq mi)
Beni
San Pedro Lake 207 m (679 ft)
21.9 km2 (8.5 sq mi)
Beni
San Roque Lake (Bolivia) 190 m (620 ft)
4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Beni
Sirk'i Quta 4,814 m (15,794 ft)
La Paz
Suárez Lake 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Beni
Suches Lake 4,605 m (15,108 ft)
14.2 km2 (5.5 sq mi)
La Paz
Sura Quta (Wayna Potosí) 4,491 m (14,734 ft)
La Paz
Taborga Lake 200 m (660 ft)
25.5 km2 (9.8 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Tacuaral Lake 170 m (560 ft)
16.7 km2 (6.4 sq mi)
Beni
T'ala Qucha Potosí
Tanguina Lake 176 m (577 ft)
14.8 km2 (5.7 sq mi)
Beni
Tapada Lake 206 m (676 ft)
19.01 km2 (7.34 sq mi)
Beni
Taypi Chaka Quta 4,412 m (14,475 ft)
La Paz
Tejas Lake 5.41 km2 (2.09 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Todos Santos Lake 193 m (633 ft)
4.12 km2 (1.59 sq mi)
Beni
Tumichuqua Lake 3.4 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Beni
Uberaba Lake 190 m (620 ft)
400 km2 (150 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Urqu Qucha (Bolivia) Potosí
Uru Uru Lake 3,686 m (12,093 ft)
214 km2 (83 sq mi)
Oruro
Ventarrón Lake 185 m (607 ft)
2.5 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Pando
Volcán Lake 0.059 km2 (0.023 sq mi)
Santa Cruz
Wallatani Lake 4,939 m (16,204 ft)
La Paz
Waña Quta (Cochabamba) 2,752 m (9,029 ft)
Cochabamba
Waña Quta (La Paz) 4,761 m (15,620 ft)
La Paz
Warawara Lake (Cochabamba) 4,105 m (13,468 ft)
Cochabamba
Warawara Lake (Oruro) Oruro
Warus Quta (Larecaja) La Paz
Warus Quta (Loayza) La Paz
Watir Quta La Paz
Yusala Lake 170 m (560 ft)
13.67 km2 (5.28 sq mi)
Beni
Zapaleri Lake 4,608 m (15,118 ft)
2 km2 (0.77 sq mi)
Potosí
Example Coipasa Lake
Notes
^ 3790 km2 of the Titicaca lake's total 8.562 km2 are inside Bolivian borders
