Ypacaraí Lake
| Ypacarai Lake | |
|---|---|
View of the lake from San Bernardino
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| Location | Central Department |
| Coordinates | 25°18′0″S 57°21′0″W / 25.30000°S 57.35000°WCoordinates: 25°18′0″S 57°21′0″W / 25.30000°S 57.35000°W |
| Primary outflows | Salado River |
| Basin countries | Paraguay |
| Max. length | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) |
| Max. width | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) |
| Surface area | 55.9 km2 (21.6 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Settlements | San Bernardino, Ypacaraí & Areguá |
Ypacaraí Lake is a major body of water located in Paraguay, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of the capital, Asunción. The lake lies in the western part of the Asunción-Sapucai-Villarrica graben, a tectonic depression from the Mesozoic Era, and drains to the northwest through the Salado River into the Paraguay River. The lake is surrounded by three cities: Areguá, Ypacaraí, and San Bernardino, the latter two being located on its shore.
The song “Memories of Ypacaraí”, written by Demetrio Ortiz, caused the lake to become widely known. It is one of Paraguay's two main lakes and the site of many leisure activities. During summer, locals and tourists enjoy its beaches and the landscape.
As a result of the proliferation of toxic algae or cyanobacteria, the lake is the most polluted in Paraguay. The government has banned access to its waters.
The area of Ypacaraí Lake is about 90 km2 (35 sq mi). It is 24 km (15 mi) long north–south and 6 km (3.7 mi) long east–west. The average depth of the water is roughly 3 metres (9.8 ft).
The lake flows into the Salado River, which itself enters the Paraguay River and receives water from various bodies, of water such as the Yagua Resau, Yuquyry, Puente Estrella and Pirayu.
The weather at the lake is temperate and sunny days are frequent. Temperatures vary between 20 and 38 °C (68 and 100 °F) during summer and 3 and 25 °C (37 and 77 °F) during winter.
The lake's original name was Tapycua. There are several possible explanations for the name. Ypacaraí means "holy lake" and is linked to the legend of the blessing of the lake by Luis de Bolaños around 1600.
The nearby town of Areguá offers permanent art and crafts exhibitions. The city's structure and antique architecture and are noteworthy. The artisan center of La Cuenca hosts a fair where local artists exhibit their work. Visitors and tourists can obtain information at the cultural center Estacion A; there is also an art center, the Guaggari Center, which is located at the entrance to the city and includes a sculpture exhibition. La Casa de la Cultura is a historical museum where temporary exhibitions are also presented. It opens for an important festival that takes place in September.
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Wikipedia