LAKE OF 7 COLORS

by | May 26, 2019 | Featured Post | 253 comments

LAGUNA DE BACALAR. If this were a lake, it would be the second largest one in México. But what is called the “Lake of Seven Colors” is a lagoon in the Yucatan that is connected to the Caribbean.

After flying to Chetumal, the visually unappealing capital of the state of Quintano Roo, we rent a car and begin the 38.5 kilometer drive to Laguna de Bacalar. Two kilometers before arriving, we stop to look at the crystal clear Cenote Azul. At 300 meters across, it is the widest cenote in Mexico, with a depth of 150 meters. There is a rope stretching across the water in the event one

CENOTE AZUL – 2 KM. DE BACALAR, QUINTANA ROO

wants to hang onto something. The only way to the cenote is to pay an entrance fee and walk down flights of cement stairs to a very large and uninviting restaurant. It was noisy and there were plenty of people in the water, so after a close-up look, we leave without taking a swim.

BACALAR – (Mayan – b´ak halal – “surrounded by reeds”) Part of the Mayan civilization in pre-Columbia times, it was seized by the Spanish in 1543. Continually raided for its precious wood by Caribbean and European pirates, Bacalar was sacked by pirates in the 17th century. A stone fortress with cannons was completed in 1729. The perfectly preserved fort still perches above the lagoon and houses a small and quite good museum. During the Yucatan Caste War of 1848, Bacalar was conquered by the Cahn Santa Cruz Maya rebels, who were able to hold it until 1902.

LA FUERTE Y VISTA DE LA FUERTE – BACALAR – THE FORT AND ITS VIEW

THE LAGOON: Breathtakingly beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. Powdery, white sand gives complete clarity to the water, which changes colors dramatically in almost in evenly defined lines of several brilliant tones of turquoise and blue. At its longest point, the

“SAC-HA” – LAGUNA DE BACALAR

the lagoon is 42 kilometers and at its widest,
2 kilometers. Complete surface measurement is 42 square kilometers. The water in the lagoon is fed by underground cenotes and the water is warm – probably 78-80 degrees. We swam, kayaked and boated for five days at all hours at different areas of the lagoon.
Favorites: “Sac-Ha” – at a narrow point of the lagoon on a sandy strip of land facing dense palm groves on the opposite side. A line of palapas for shade and no one there. The sign near the mangroves advises to keep off the astramolites, a word I can´t remember hearing before.

“SAC-HA”

These are rock-like, living structures formed by bacteria and usually found in shallow waters. For two billion years, stromatolites pumped oxygen in the ocean, which is why we are all alive.

“SAC-HA”

“Los Rápidos” (“the rapids”) – These are not actually rapids, but a narrow part of the lagoon where water seems like a river, moving fairly quickly and strongly in one direction. Fun for swimming and kayaking.

“LOS RÁPIDOS” – LAGUNA DE BACALAR

In a boat – swimming in the Cenote Negro, which is one of two cenotes inside the lagoon.

DENTRO DEL CENOTE NEGRO – LAGUNA DE BACALAR – INSIDE THE BLACK CENOTE

In shallow areas, one throws an anchor and walks waist-high in sand that squishes pleasantly between one´s toes. Scooping up handfuls of it and smearing it over face and body is a great exfoliation treatment. There are at least two small islands in the lagoon and “pirate alley” is the winding, very narrow part of the lagoon that connects to the Caribbean. If there were a straight line drawn, the sea is only 40 kilometers away.

UNA PEQUENA ISLA – LAGUNA DE BACALAR

When not in or on the water, we are reading in swaying hammocks, hearing the summer hum of small, unseen insects (no mosquitos!) and the calls of approximately two dozen different species of birds. After five heavenly days, we head off in our rental car for XPUJIL in the biosphere/archaeological zone of Campeche.

SAN JUAN, NAYARIT: We revisit this location about an hour´s drive away in the next state because the need is always great and because the very energetic Linda Stewart does a terrific job raising the extra money for an out-of-town clinic and of organizing locations, lunches and volunteers.

SAN JUAN, NAYARIT

STERILIZATIONS AT CLINIC IN SAN JUAN, NAYARIT –
MAY 15-18 – Female dogs – 61; Male dogs – 20; Female cats – 41; Male cats – 17 TOTAL: 139

This clinic was made possible by a generous and anonymous donation of $10,000 for PEACEAnimals clinics. This will pay the costs of 5.56 clinics.

CLÍNICA EN SAN JUAN, NAYARIT – LESLIE Y CONCHA (ESPOSA DE DR. POLI)

DONATIONS AT CLINIC IN SAN JUAN : 1,520 pesos

CLÍNICA EN SAN JUAN, NAY. DR.POLI & DR. PACHECO

I was traveling and unable to attend this clinic. All Photos were taken by our star volunteer, Frank Ohly.

DONATIONS TO
PEACEANIMALS: None
these past two weeks.

In 2018, PEACEAnimals sterilized 5,792 cats and dogs.

HORARIO/SCHEDULE:

JUNIO

PERRITA RECUPERANDO DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA – SAN JUAN, NAYARIT

June 5-8- COLONIA MAGISTERIO AVE. LAS TORRES 1162 ESQUINA 16 DE SEPTIEMBRE SALON DE EVENTOS A CONTRA ESQUINA DE LA ESCUELA SECONDARIA TÉCNICA FORÁNEA

JUNE 12-15 – Colonia Volcanes, Puerto Vallarta (organized by Megan Shelton)
June 19-22 – Parque Lineal, Pitillal
June 26-29 – Nayarit (organized by Linda Stewart)

JULIO – 24-27 -Tomatlán – Cabo Corrientes

PHOTOS OF DOGS AND CATS FOR ADOPTION AT THE ALBERGUE, THE CITY SHELTER

(322) 293-3690

FOTOS/NOMBRES Y INFORMACIÓN DE PERROS Y GATOS EN ADOPCIÓN EN EL ALBERGUE

h ttps://perrospv.000webhostapp.com/lista-de-perros.html

TO REPORT ANIMAL ABUSE OR RESCUE NEEDED- CALL 911 AND REQUEST GREEN PATROL (PATRULLA VERDE); OR CALL THE CITY SHELTER – (322) 293-3690

FOR WEEKLY CLINIC DIRECTIONS TO CLINICS: (SPANISH ONLY) (322) 113-3955 PARA REPORTAR ABUSO A LOS ANIMALES O PARA ANIMALES QUE NECESITAN – LLAME A LA POLICA – 911 –

Y PIDE LA PATRULLA VERDE – o marca al albergue (322) 293 3690

LINEA DESIGNADA PARA DIRECCIÓNES EN ESPAÑOL Y COMO LLEGAR A LAS CLÍNICAS CADA SEMANA: (322) 113 3955 http://www.peaceanimals.org/

PLEASE HELP WITH LUNCH DONATIONS FOR OUR VET TEAM. has a lunch budget of 70 pesos per vet team member (four persons) per day – 4 days a week. has a lunch budget of 70 pesos per vet team member (four persons) per day – 4 days a week.

Extra person every Wednesday & Thursday is star volunteer, Frank Ohly. Please advise when you would like to donate. DONATIONS OF LUNCHES MEAN MONEY SAVED FOR CLINIC SUPPLIES. FAVOR DE DONAR ALMUERZOS PARA NUESTRO EQUIPO.

¡NOS URGEN VOLUNTARIOS PARA LAS CLÍNICAS en PUERTO VALLARTA. Siempre tenemos en Nayarit.

PARA AVISAR: Leslie Caratachea por FB o [email protected]

http://www.peaceanimals.org/espa_ol/protocolo_para_voluntarios

WE ARE IN GREAT NEED OF VOLUNTEERS in Puerto Vallarta. Clinics in the state of Nayarit are always fully staffed with volunteers. Please contact Leslie Caratachea via FB or just drop by.
FOR INFORMATION: http://www.peaceanimals.org/volunteer_1/volunteer_duties

VOLUNTARIA – CLÍNICA EN SAN JUAN, NAYARIT

ALSO NEEDED: USED/NEW KENNELS FOR CATS AND DOGS AND NEW/USED COLLARS AND LEASHES TO GIVE TO DOG OWNERS AT CLINICS, PLUS USED TOWELS AND SHEETS.

$$$$$$ COST PER SURGERY WEEK CLINIC (3.5 days) IS APPROXIMATELY $1,800 USD. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION VIA CHECK, CREDIT CARD, PAYPAL, BEQUEST, OR STOCK TRANSFER. Note: Stocks are transferred at full value without the donating stock owner being taxed.

PEACEAnimals is under the umbrella of Banderas Bay Charities, Inc., a US 501 (c)(3) charity located in Portland, Oregon. Please make payments payable to either BBC INC or to full name. Donations are tax deductible and should be earmarked for PEACEAnimals.

Amy Welch, Secretary-Treasurer [email protected]

505 N Tomahawk Is Dr Portland, OR 97217 Tel:503 285 4007