Lake Enriquillo

Lake Enriquillo is a lake in western Dominican Republic, near the border with Haiti. Its Taíno name was Hagueygagon but, in colonial times, it had the name Jaragua Lake. It is in the Hoya de Enriquillo valley, a long valley between the "Sierra de Neiba", to the north, and the "Sierra de Bahoruco", to the south.

Enriquillo
Location	western Dominican Republic
Coordinates	18°30′N 71°35′W
Lake type	salt water lake
Basin  countries	Dominican Republic
Surface area	265 km²
Surface  elevation	-44 m
Settlements	see list

South shore of Lake Enriquillo, looking northward to the Sierra de Neiba.

The lake has an area of 265 km², and its surface is around 44 meters below sea level, the lowest point in the Caribbean. There are three small islands in the lake: Isla Cabritos, Barbarita, and La Islita.

Only small rivers flow into the lake. The rivers that flow from the Sierra de Neiba always have water. Those rivers that flow from the Sierra de Bahoruco sometimes do not have water.

It is a salt water lake with a higher concentration of salt than the sea water because the rivers that flow into the lake are small and the evaporation of its water is high.

Many water birds visit the lake to feed, including flamingos. There are also American crocodiles and some fishes as tilapia. Because it is an arid region, the vegetation around the lake is poor with cacti and small shrubs.

The lake is part of the "Lago Enriquillo e Isla Cabritos National Park" and of the "Jaragua - Bahoruco - Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve".

Cities on the lake

The main cities on the coast (or very near) of the lake are:

1. Villa Jaragua
2. Postrer Río
3. La Descubierta
4. Boca de Cachón
5. El Limón
6. Vengan a Ver

Lake Enriquillo Media

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  Lake Enriquillo seen from Las Caritas National Park, near La Descubierta

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  Trap bij grot LasCaritas bij Lago Enriquio

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  Rhinoceros iguana in Lake Enriquillo.

Other websites

Media related to Lake Enriquillo at Wikimedia Commons