Lake Otún (Laguna del Otún) is a small lake in the Nevados National Park, in the Risaralda department of Colombia. It located at an altitude of 3,900 m over an extinct crater[2] and has an area of 1.5 square kilometres. The lake is of glacial origin and is fed by meltwaters of the Nevado Santa Isabel. Lake Otún is the source of the Otún River, which supplies drinking water to the cities of Pereira and Dosquebradas.

Lake Otún
Location of Lake Otún in Colombia.
Location of Lake Otún in Colombia.
Lake Otún
LocationNevados National Park, Risaralda
Coordinates4°46′33″N 75°24′53″W / 4.77583°N 75.41472°W / 4.77583; -75.41472
Primary outflowsOtún River
Basin countriesColombia
Surface area1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Surface elevation3,900 m (12,800 ft)
Official nameComplejo de Humedales Laguna del Otún
Designated25 June 2008
Reference no.1781[1]

Lake Otún is an important breeding ground for several threatened or endangered bird species, including the Colombian torrent duck (Merganetta armata columbiana), the Colombian ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis andina), the Andean teal (Anas andium) and the Andean snipe (Gallinago jamesoni).[3]

Lake Otún contains a large population of rainbow trout, introduced for recreational fishing and a major attraction for visitors to the lake.

References

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  1. ^ "Complejo de Humedales Laguna del Otún". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Nature & Science Los Nevados". Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  3. ^ Section 34: Laguna del Otún – Descripción general y biodiversidad Archived 2004-03-30 at the Wayback Machine
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