Lake Suesca

Lake Suesca
View of the lake from the east
Lake Suesca
Location	Suesca & Cucunubá, Cundinamarca
Coordinates	5°11′N 73°47′W / 5.183°N 73.783°W / 5.183; -73.783Coordinates: 5°11′N 73°47′W / 5.183°N 73.783°W / 5.183; -73.783
Type	Intermontane
Basin countries	Colombia
Max. length	6 kilometres (3.7 mi)
Max. width	2 kilometres (1.2 mi)
Average depth	8 metres (26 ft)
Surface elevation	2,800 m (9,200 ft)

Lake Suesca is a natural water body situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, belonging to the municipalities of Suesca and Cucunubá in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. The basin has a semi-elliptical shape that extends on a north–south axis, with roughly 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) length and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) width. The average depth is 8 metres (26 ft). It is located in the Eastern Ranges, on the anticlinal of Nemocón, in the northeast of the department, at an altitude of 2,800 metres (9,200 ft).

Geologically, the lake is of origin and is linked to the formation of the Eastern Ranges, which had a strong uprising activity during the Pliocene. Because of its location there is a wide distribution of sedimentary rocks, and the Guadalupe Group, Guaduas, Bogotá and Cacho formations are present in the area. The basin is crossed along its axis by the Suesca Fault, uplifting sandstone.

The soils of the basin are classified as alfisols, where erosion areas are classified as "bad soils". Generally these correspond to cold and dry climates, with corrugated relief and highly evolved soils, where the presence of erosion is common, and most horizons have enrichment with clay. These soils were formed during the Pliocene and Quaternary, containing deposits of volcanic ash from the Cordillera Central, which weathered into clays, currently present in the lower strata.