La Cocha Lagoon (Spanish: Laguna de la Cocha) is a 39,000-hectare (96,000-acre) volcanic crater lake located within the Pasto Municipality in Nariño, Colombia.

La Cocha Lagoon
La Cocha, with La Corota Island, from an overlook stop
Location of Laguna de la Cocha in Colombia.
Location of Laguna de la Cocha in Colombia.
La Cocha Lagoon
LocationNariño, Colombia
Coordinates01°06′00″N 77°09′07″W / 1.10000°N 77.15194°W / 1.10000; -77.15194
TypeVolcanic crater lake
Primary outflowsGuamués River, Putumayo River
Basin countriesAmazon basin
Surface area40.5 km2 (15.6 sq mi)
Surface elevation2,680 m (8,790 ft)
IslandsLa Corota Island
Designated8 January 2001
Reference no.1047[1]

La Cocha Lagoon is Colombia's second largest inland body of water after Lake Tota in terms of surface area.

Wildlife

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La Cocha Lagoon surrounds La Corota Island Flora Sanctuary which is home to mammals such as mountain tapir, northern pudu and spectacled bears, and bird species like grebes, golden peck duck, snipes, and andean ducks.[1]

Important plant species include frailejon, Schoenoplectus californicus, and Juncus effusus.

Climate

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Climate data for Laguna de la Cocha (El Encano), elevation 2,830 m (9,280 ft), (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7)
16.6
(61.9)
16.3
(61.3)
16.3
(61.3)
15.9
(60.6)
14.8
(58.6)
14.2
(57.6)
14.2
(57.6)
15.2
(59.4)
16.5
(61.7)
16.8
(62.2)
16.8
(62.2)
15.8
(60.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)
12.0
(53.6)
12.0
(53.6)
12.1
(53.8)
11.9
(53.4)
11.3
(52.3)
10.6
(51.1)
10.5
(50.9)
11.1
(52.0)
11.8
(53.2)
12.2
(54.0)
12.3
(54.1)
11.6
(52.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.4
(47.1)
8.5
(47.3)
8.6
(47.5)
8.8
(47.8)
8.9
(48.0)
8.6
(47.5)
7.8
(46.0)
7.6
(45.7)
7.3
(45.1)
8.0
(46.4)
8.5
(47.3)
8.4
(47.1)
8.3
(46.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 85.5
(3.37)
89.3
(3.52)
104.2
(4.10)
142.1
(5.59)
149.0
(5.87)
145.6
(5.73)
136.3
(5.37)
104.2
(4.10)
82.9
(3.26)
100.5
(3.96)
111.0
(4.37)
98.1
(3.86)
1,339.5
(52.74)
Average precipitation days 21 19 23 25 26 26 25 25 23 22 21 22 274
Average relative humidity (%) 85 86 86 87 87 88 88 87 86 85 85 86 86
Mean monthly sunshine hours 99.2 76.2 65.1 60.0 62.0 63.0 65.1 68.2 72.0 89.9 93.0 102.3 916
Mean daily sunshine hours 3.2 2.7 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.9 3.1 3.3 2.5
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Laguna de la Cocha". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2024.