Situated on the border of the Mexican states of Jalisco and Michoacn, Lake Chapala is the largest body of freshwater in Mexico. It exists at a height of 1524 meters from sea level and covers an area of approximately 1100 square kilometers. The lake as such is quite shallow and has a maximum depth of 10.5 meters. It runs approximately 18 kilometers in length from north to south and 80 kilometers in width from east to west. The lake is fed by four rivers, namely RoZula, Ro Huaracha, Ro Lerma and the Ro Duero rivers and drained by the river Ro Santiago that drains into the Pacific Ocean in the northwest. There are two small islands inside the lake as well.

The water levels of this beautiful lake and the quality of its water is under threat from increasing human habitation by the sides of the lake. The population burden has taken its toll on the lake as the greater number of humans using its resources has led to over exploitation, to such an extreme degree that nature has not been able to repair the damage to the lake through natural processes. The lake has particularly been exploited by Guadaljara a neighboring settlement. This has led to a sudden drop in the water levels of the lake. This sharp drop in water levels has now become a political issue as the Global Nature Fund has recently labeled it the ?Threatened Lake of the Year for the year 2004. However, water levels have risen again to acceptable levels as 2004 saw excessive rains and the removal of several unauthorized dams on the rivers feeding the lake. However, the levels of waterweed have also increased as well with the water levels, and gigantic islands of weed that cover most of the water area at times. As per local legend, the lake is haunted by spirits of the natives who used to live in that area.

The levels of Lake Chapala have increased recently with water levels being at the highest seen in decades. There is still rampant contamination of the water as effluents are dumped from agricultural, industrial, and domestic waste generated by the settlements around the lake. However, the toxicity of the lake waters hasn’t been determined yet. The year 2006 saw the application of herbicides to the water of the lake and there has been a reduction in the level of water hyacinth (lirios) the weed that covers most of the lake. However, this could also be due to the increased level of water in the lake diluting the conditions for the waterweed to grow. Another reason could be that neighboring villages are now prohibited from dumping their waste and drainage in the lake.

If you are planning to invest in real estate around the lake, you would be advised to watch the water level of the lake as the prices of real estate vary with the level of water in the lake. There is however, a lag of a year or two with the real estate prices following the level of water in the lake. The lakeside is a beautiful place to stay at or just visit, and if you are planning on experiencing life by the lake a few days is hardly enough. It is home to an excellent climate, it is also home to a large number of Native American colonies as well as being close to Guadalajara, which is Mexico’s cultural hub and home to the greatly acclaimed Mariachis. There are also a large number of theater halls and art galleries in Guadalajara.