Lake Chapala

Located 28 miles southeast of Guadalajara, Jalisco, the largest interior lake in Mexico is found by the state line to Jalisco and Michoacán at 5000 feet above sea level. Its length is approximate to 50 miles from east to west and extended area of 420 sq miles (1,100 km2).

It is mostly a shallow lake that goes from 7 meters (23 ft) to a maximum of 10.5 meters (34 ft) in depth. It is fed by the Río Lerma and 4 more small rivers and drained by the Rio Grande de Santiago. The water then would normally flow northwest into the Pacific Ocean. No water has flowed out of the lake in over 30 years due to a fall in the supply of incoming water from the Lerma River. There are three small islands: Isla de los Alacranes (most visible from the town of Chapala), Isla Mezcala (the largest island, featuring an old Spanish fort and an old Mexican prison), and a third very small island next to Isla Mezcala called La Isla Menor.

There are numerous towns and cities along the coast of Lake Chapala, including Chapala and Ajijic. According to different travel writers, starting in the 1950s a substantial colony of retirees, including many from the United States and Canada; have been established along the lake shores, because of the pleasant climate and attractive scenery. Mostly in the town of Ajijic, located west of the city of Chapala. To present day an estimated 30,000 foreign residents live along the shores of Lake Chapala.

The city of Guadalajara has relied on Lake Chapala as a principal source of water since the 1950s. Shortly after, a few consecutive years of poor rainfall dramatically decreased the water level of the lake. The level rebounded until 1979, when Lake Chapala’s water level began rapidly decreasing due to increases in urban water consumption.

“Lake Chapala” by Alfredo de la Cruz.