Lake Enriquillo

Lago en Pedernales, Dominican Republic

• Abierto todo el año
• Duración típica: 6h

Qué hacer

• island visit: isla cabritos — only remaining island in lake
• wildlife viewing: crocodiles (especies: American crocodile) — largest Caribbean population

Antes de ir

• rising water levels ongoing — lake more than doubled in area 2004–2011; agricultural land and towns affected

Mejor época para visitar

• avoid dry season for greenery (temporada: May–October) — peak rainfall months May and October

Características

• endemic cactus species (especies: Melocactus lemairei)
• endemic snake present (especies: Hispaniola racer (Haitiophis anomalus))
• former marine strait (formed: approx. 1 million years ago)
• largest caribbean lake (distinction: largest in Dominican Republic, Hispaniola, and Caribbean)
• lowest island-country point (elevación: -46 m below sea level)
• named after taino cacique (nombre: Enriquillo · period: early 16th century)
• national park since 1974 (biosphere reserve: Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo, 2002)
• seismic activity common (cause: Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault)
• surface area ~380 km2 (area km2: 380)
• three native fish species (especies: blackbanded limia, Hispaniolan gambusia, Hispaniola pupfish)

Cerca de aquí

• jimaní (independencia province capital) (ubicación: western end, near Haiti border)
• neiba (baoruco province capital) (ubicación: northeast shore)

Datos útiles

• gateway town: la descubierta (role: nearest town to park entrance)
• hot, semiarid climate (dry season: December–April)

Identificador de catálogo: AVIA-35MA-6RPE9

Fotos