Extreme Drought Threatens Lake Titicaca, South America’s Largest Lake, Resulting in Devastating Consequences for Locals
Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and South America’s largest, is experiencing a sharp decline in water levels due to an unprecedented winter heat wave. This shocking decline is causing adverse effects on tourism, fishing, and agriculture – the livelihoods that locals rely on to sustain themselves.
The blue waters and open skies of Lake Titicaca have long attracted visitors to its shores, spanning over 3,200 square miles across the Peru-Bolivia border. The lake, known as an “inland sea,” is home to Aymara, Quechua, and Uros indigenous communities and sits at an altitude of approximately 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) in the central Andes mountain range, making it the highest navigable lake in the world.
The lake’s extreme altitude exposes it to high levels of solar radiation, leading to increased evaporation and substantial water losses. With more than three million people relying on the lake for fishing, farming, and tourism, the declining water levels pose a grave risk to the economy of the surrounding marginalized region.
Fluctuations in water levels are normal for the lake, but the changes have become more extreme due to the climate crisis. A record-breaking winter heat wave has exacerbated the evaporation process, worsening water deficits caused by drought. Consequently, water levels are rapidly decreasing, and if the lake continues to evaporate at its current rate, it could reach the lowest levels recorded since 1996 by December, warned Sixto Flores, director of Peru’s national meteorology and hydrology service.
Furthermore, a recent study analyzing satellite images from 1992-2020 revealed that Lake Titicaca is losing around 120 million metric tons of water annually, primarily due to changes in precipitation and runoff. The declining water levels are having a detrimental impact on local fishing communities, as pollution, overfishing, and low water levels contribute to the declining fish stocks. Agriculture has also suffered from the drought, with regional authorities reporting substantial crop losses in the last harvest season. Staple crops such as quinoa, potatoes, and oats used to feed livestock have been severely affected.
In addition to the economic consequences, the decline in water levels has also hit the tourist sector hard. Boats used to transport visitors around the lake have become stranded as waters recede. Local artisans who rely on tourism, like Jullian Huattamarca, are anxious for the return of tourists: “We want the tourists to come back, particularly foreign tourists,” he said.
The Puno region, which encompasses the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, has long been underdeveloped and marginalized. The region has faced additional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent social unrest. Earlier demonstrations calling for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte disrupted tourism, with travelers avoiding the region out of fear. The ongoing drought and its impact on the subsistence economy may lead to further migration, similar to the waves of migration caused by a previous drought in 1991.
While the El Niño weather pattern, characterized by warmer-than-normal temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, exacerbates the drought, experts predict that these conditions will persist until at least February 2024, causing reduced rainfall in the Andean region.
Connor Baker, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, emphasizes the need for long-term action to protect the communities dependent on Lake Titicaca. “The exacerbating influence of climate change heightens the need for sustained management strategies,” he said, stressing the vulnerability of local communities and the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by more intense fluctuations in water levels.
As the water levels at Lake Titicaca continue to drop dramatically, local communities are left grappling with the devastating consequences of an increasingly severe climate crisis. Immediate action is needed to safeguard their livelihoods, protect the fragile ecosystem of the lake, and mitigate the long-term effects of climate change.