Lake Titicaca, located on the border between Peru and Bolivia, is experiencing a concerning drop in water levels, inching closer to a historic low. The situation has been exacerbated by the intensification of the El Nino weather phenomenon, which is expected to become even more pronounced in the coming months.
Since April, the water level in the expansive freshwater lake, nestled in the Andes mountains, has been steadily decreasing at an average rate of 4 inches (10 cm) per month. Milagros Quispe, an engineer with Peru’s national meteorology and hydrology service Senamhi, attributes this decline to severe drought conditions and unusually high temperatures in the region.
Lake Titicaca holds the distinction of being South America’s largest lake and the world’s highest navigable body of water. Presently, its water level stands approximately 13 inches (33 cm) above the record low recorded in 1943. The combination of extreme dryness and heat has resulted in increased evaporation of the lake’s water, leading to a significant drop in its level. Over the past seven months, the lake’s water level has fallen by 29 inches (74 cm), according to Senamhi data.
Despite limited rainfall in the mountainous area surrounding the lake, it has not been sufficient to stabilize the shoreline, explained Quispe. El Nino typically brings heavy rainfall to Peru’s Pacific coast but leads to drought conditions in its highland regions.
Peru’s climate study office recently raised the probability of this El Nino event’s intensity being classified as “strong” starting in December, a notable increase from the earlier forecast of “moderate” intensity.