Lake Atitlán
Lake Atitlán is one of the main bodies of water in Guatemala. Likewise, it is located in the department of Sololá, where the San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes surround it. In addition, it has been listed as the most beautiful lake in the world by National Geographic.
Its name is derived from the Nahuatl Atl which means water and Titlan which translated means between. This results in Between waters. However, it is also believed that the name could mean Place where the rainbow gets its colors.
Lake Izabal
Lake Izabal is located in the department of Izabal. It is currently the largest lake in Guatemala and a major tourist attraction.
This lake has an area of 671.82 square kilometers. It rests between the mountain ranges of the Sierra de Santa Cruz in the north and the Sierra de las Minas in the south.
It is a lowland lake, its surface is only 10 meters above sea level. The average depth is 12 meters and the maximum depth is 17 meters.
Lake Izabal is sensitive to environmental changes due to its large area and shallow depth. The waters mix quite a bit with each other, and in this way, dry times increase their concentration, which drastically changes the ecosystem.
Lake Petén Itzá
Petén Itzá is located in the north of the country, 465 km northeast of Guatemala City. It has an area of 1,064 square kilometers in total.
It measures approximately 35 km from east to west and 16 km from north to south. It is also approximately 50 meters deep. It does not have any visible outlet for the water flow, since its drainage is below the surface.
Much of the surrounding land is covered in tropical rainforest. Normally, tourists pass by the lake area on their way to visit the archaeological site of Tikal. It is a special place where you can swim and take walks along its forested shores.
Lagoon and Volcano Ipala
The Ipala volcano and lagoon are beautiful Guatemalan tourist attractions located between Chiquimula and Jutiapa. Every day it is visited by dozens of Guatemalans and foreigners, looking for a moment of peace in the nature of the beautiful formation.
It is known that thousands of years ago, the dome of the volcano collapsed and caused an explosion. This left a large crater in the center, which, over the years, formed what is known today as Ipala Lagoon.
Ayarza Lagoon
Laguna de Ayarza is a body of water located inside a volcanic crater in the department of Santa Rosa, Guatemala.
It is believed that it was created around 20,000 years ago, on the caldera of an extinct volcano. It currently has a surface area of 14 square kilometers, as well as a maximum depth of 230 meters. Furthermore, it is not known to have tributaries or drains. Specifically, it is located in Casillas, serving as an ideal environment for fishing, in addition to diving. The most common fish in the lagoon are mojarras, carp and tilapia, among others. In addition, you can find crabs and snails.
Lake Güija
Lake Güija is located in the municipality of Asunción Mita, department of Jutiapa. Its extension and beauty make it currently a great tourist attraction in Guatemala.
The lake basin is shared by Guatemala and El Salvador. It has an area of 44.2 square kilometers. Approximately a third belongs to the territory of Guatemala and the rest is part of El Salvador.
The area is classified as a Ramsar site. This means that it is considered a water surface that fulfills fundamental ecological functions. Therefore, its importance for nature due to its biodiversity is great.
Laguna El Tigre
Laguna del Tigre is part of the Laguna del Tigre National Park and is formed by four lagoons: La canaleta, Gloria, Lago Azul and Lalampa, which together form an area of 337,899 hectares
These join together into one during the rainy season. It is constituted as one of the most important Core Zones the Mayan Biosphere Reserve is great. Of the 16 ecosystems that make up the Reserve, 13 are represented in Laguna del Tigre. Due to its extension, richness and characteristics of its Wetland ecosystem, the area is categorized as a Ramsar Site.