LA PLAZ: Bolivia's Lake Poopo was once a fountain of life for local inhabitants, who fished from its teeming waters and farmed along its banks. Now it is a desert.
Scientists say the one-time lake, which sprawls across Bolivia's sun-drenched, high-altitude altiplano, has fallen victim to decades of water diversion for regional irrigation needs. And a warmer, drier climate has made its recovery increasingly unlikely.
"It's like a perfect storm," says Jorge Molina, a researcher with the Universidad Mayor de San Andres. "Every year that passes the situation gets worse."
The lake, Bolivia's second largest, is very shallow, and has traditionally ebbed and flowed, according to both scientists and the lake's long-time Aymara inhabitants.
Valerio Rojas, who once made a living from fishing the lake, says village elders tell of the lake recharging every 50 years. But looking out across the parched, white-rimmed salt flat that remains, he has his doubts.
"Will the lake fill again? With this climate change and pollution, it seems to me that the weather can no longer be predicted," Rojas said. "In our Aymara language it is said that: 'Our mother earth is tired'."
Scientists are also growing skeptical. Molina says the Andes are outpacing the global average temperature rise, especially during the day, which means evaporation has ramped up, making it especially hard for a shallow lake - and its flora and fauna - to survive.
“It is no longer a functional lake. A lake that dries up too often is no longer functional for fauna, flora and biodiversity," Molina told Reuters.
The drought is also driving away the communities that once lived along its banks, says Benedicta Uguera, an indigenous woman from Untavi who once raised livestock on an island in the lake.
“The families decided to leave the island, because we cannot survive without water and there is no more life," she said.
Reuters
Tue Aug 03 2021
A boat and a bicycle are seen on the dried lake Poopo affected by climate change, in the Oruro Department, Bolivia. - REUTERS
Serangan balai polis Ulu Tiram: Bedah siasat dua mangsa, suspek sedang dijalankan
Tinjauan mendapati laluan serta pekarangan Jabatan Perubatan Forensik, HSI dikawal ketat anggota polis.
Insiden Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Jangan kongsi maklumat tidak pasti - Fahmi
Orang ramai perlu mendapatkan maklumat daripada sumber yang sah bagi memastikan mereka tidak menyebarkan maklumat yang tidak betul.
Jemaah Islamiyah ancaman utama keselamatan Asia Tenggara
JI terkenal kerana terlibat dalam beberapa serangan pengganas besar di rantau ini, termasuk pengeboman kelab malam Bali pada 2002 yang mengorbankan 202 nyawa, kebanyakannya pelancong asing.
Agenda AWANI: Mentakrifkan semula kejayaan
Apakah strategi Yayasan Peneraju dalam memperkasa dan meningkatkan penyertaan Bumiputera dalam penciptaan nilai dan penguasaan ekonomi dalam sektor baharu?
Diskusi dan analisis dalam Agenda Awani jam 9:00 malam ini.
Diskusi dan analisis dalam Agenda Awani jam 9:00 malam ini.
Huawei perkenal inovasi terbaharu WATCH FIT 3, Matebook X Pro
Boleh dipadankan dengan kedua-dua peranti iOS dan Android serta bateri yang mampu bertahan sehingga 10 hari, HUAWEI WATCH FIT 3 memastikan pemakai kekal berhubung dengan lancar.
Maszlee cadang Chong Wei bantu kembangkan bakat pemain badminton Rusia
Pengerusi IAIS Malaysia, Profesor Maszlee Malik, berhasrat menggunakan kepada kepakaran seperti Datuk Lee Chong Wei untuk membantu menggilap bakat badminton di Rusia.
AWANI Ringkas: Insiden serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Polis cari suspek ugut bunuh ibu bapa Naim Daniel
Artis tersebut membuat laporan di balai di bawah pentadbiran Ibu Pejabat Daerah Kajang pada 14 Mei lalu.
[TERKINI] Serangan Ulu Tiram: Lima anggota keluarga suspek ditahan
Sebelum berakhir, ini lagi laporan yang baru kami terima berhubung serangan Ulu Tiram.
Polis mengesahkan menahan lima ahli keluarga suspek serangan yang didakwa merupakan ahli Jemaah Islamiyah.
Kesemua mereka berumur antara 19 ke 62 tahun ditahan untuk siasatan lanjut.
Polis mengesahkan menahan lima ahli keluarga suspek serangan yang didakwa merupakan ahli Jemaah Islamiyah.
Kesemua mereka berumur antara 19 ke 62 tahun ditahan untuk siasatan lanjut.
Penganggur didakwa edar heroin 9.2 kilogram
Seorang lelaki, A. Nathan, didakwa di Mahkamah Majistret Ipoh atas pertuduhan mengedar 9.2 kilogram.