Guajataca Lake
Encyclopedia
Lago Guajataca is a reservoir
located between the municipalities of San Sebastián
, Quebradillas
, and Isabela
in Puerto Rico
. This man-made lake was created in 1929.
The lake receives flow from the Guajataca River and can be used for fishing
. The reservoir provides water to the inhabitants of northwestern Puerto Rico. It is also the location of Camp Guajataca, the island's main camping grounds of the Boy Scouts of America
. The lake area is 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the island and provides year round recreational opportunities and outdoor activities including fishing for bass, tilapia and catfish, kayaking , nature watching and relaxing in general.
The name of the lake comes from the area where it is located. Guajataca, sometimes spelled Guajataka, is an area in Puerto Rico between the municipalities of Quebradillas, San Sebastián and Isabela. The name comes from the Taíno Indian word for the area (northwestern Puerto Rico) prior to the arrival of Cristobal Colon
. The river, Río Guajataca, also carries the name.
Lago Guajataca was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
by building a dam across the river Río Guajataca and is owned by the Puerto Rico Electrical Authority. Many schools, businesses, and organizations, including a parador
, Boy Scout
Camp, and kayak excursion company are named for the area and water way as well.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
located between the municipalities of San Sebastián
San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...
, Quebradillas
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
Quebradillas is a municipality of the island of Puerto Rico, located in the north-western shore bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela; and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is spread over swven wards and Quebradillas Pueblo...
, and Isabela
Isabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. This man-made lake was created in 1929.
The lake receives flow from the Guajataca River and can be used for fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. The reservoir provides water to the inhabitants of northwestern Puerto Rico. It is also the location of Camp Guajataca, the island's main camping grounds of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. The lake area is 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the island and provides year round recreational opportunities and outdoor activities including fishing for bass, tilapia and catfish, kayaking , nature watching and relaxing in general.
The name of the lake comes from the area where it is located. Guajataca, sometimes spelled Guajataka, is an area in Puerto Rico between the municipalities of Quebradillas, San Sebastián and Isabela. The name comes from the Taíno Indian word for the area (northwestern Puerto Rico) prior to the arrival of Cristobal Colon
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
. The river, Río Guajataca, also carries the name.
Lago Guajataca was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
by building a dam across the river Río Guajataca and is owned by the Puerto Rico Electrical Authority. Many schools, businesses, and organizations, including a parador
Parador
A parador , in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, is a kind of luxury hotel, usually located in a historic building such as a monastery or castle. Parar means to stop, halt or stay.- Paradores de Turismo de España :...
, Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
Camp, and kayak excursion company are named for the area and water way as well.