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| LAKE ATITLAN | |||||||||||||||||
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| Arguably the most beautiful lake in the world, Atitlán owes its grandeur to its enormous size and spectacular, volcanic setting. Measuring more than 17 kilometers in diameter and covering about 130 square kilometers, Lake Atitlán was formed when a volcanic caldera, depleted of its magma, collapsed following the Chocoyos eruption 85,000 years ago. Three stately volcanoes - Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro - rise gracefully from its southern shore, their perfect cones reflected in the azure mirror of the lake. | |||||||||||||||||
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| The tallest of these volcanoes, Atitlán, towers 3,537 meters ASL. Fishermen from Maya villages ply the lake in dugout canoes, while larger boats ferry passengers from one town to another, all wary of the "Xocomil" wind that rises some afternoons and chops the lake's usually placid waters into treacherous waves. Weavings made and worn by the Maya-Tzutujil and Cakchiquel women who live around the lake are some of the most beautiful in Guatemala, and many of the men also wear traditional, hand-woven clothing. At an altitude of 1,562 meters ASL, the lake's climate is comfortably warm during the days, and pleasantly cool at night. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Around the lake are 12 mayan pueblos, each with there own distinct flavour. Most notably in the colorful traje worn by the mayans. Traditional Mayan life still remains in these pueblos on the shores and in the hills surrounding the lake. Driving on the pan american highway, you get off the highway at Los Encuentros to descend down thru the pine forests that surround Solola, at the bottom of the hill is Panajchel. Pana is the main tourist center on the lake. Hotels and restaurants are plentiful catering to the tourist. It is from pana that you will begin to explore the lake. There are two docks in town from which boats run regularly to the pueblos on the shores. Shuttles and buses run daily from Pana to all other destinations. |
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Catarina and San Antonio Palopó A pleasant walk east
from Panajachel, around the lake's northern shore, brings visitors
to the picturesque, Maya-Cakchiquel towns of Santa Catarina Palopó,
and, further on, San Antonio Palopó, with gorgeous vistas
of the lake at every turn. Santa Catarina's women wear a distinctive,
bright blue huipil. In San Antonio, the men till plots of onions
and anise on the hillsides above the lake. |
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