Laguna Rojiza

Laguna Rojiza
View of the lagoon with pink flamingos and the village of Almada in the background.
Location	Pecario
Type	Lake
Basin countries	Pecario
Max. length	10 km
Max. width	6 km
Surface area	60 km2
Average depth	3 metres
Max. depth	15 ft (4.6 m)

Laguna Rojiza (Iberic) or Red Lagoon (Anglish) is a lake located in Pecario in Montañosa department.

Geography

The Laguna Rojiza is a salt lake with vibrant red waters, a characteristic caused by algae and mineral deposits common in high-altitude lakes. Its intense red color makes it a notable landmark and tourist attraction in the region. It is surrounded by rocky terrain and sparse vegetation typical of the highlands of the Cordillera del Sol.

Fauna

The lagoon is a sanctuary and a mating site for pink flamingos and was decreted an Eurth Natural Wonder in 1998.

History

Local people traditionally come here to hunt them using bolas, a very efficient kind of throwing weapon made of stones on the ends of interconnected cords that entangle the long legs of the flamingos. Archaeological excavations conducted in 2003 showed that the indigenous peoples of Pecario were already hunting pink flamingos during the pre-colonial era.