Tourists Tell Sad Story About Lake Atitlan Algae Outbreak

Support coming from all over the world for new Save Lake Atitlan web site and relief organization

By Greg Szymanski, JD
March 30, 2010

After the debut of Save Lake Atitlan Mission web site Monday, “more support and encouragement came in than expected,” according to a spokesman for the U.S. and Guatemalen based relief organization.

“We received a ton of emails, Skype messages and phone calls from people all over the world,” added a representative for Save Lake Atitlan Mission. “We are extremely encouraged by the pledges of support and spirit of cooperation shown, especially from locals at Lake Atitlan and Guatemala.”

The pledge by the relief organization to help bring unity to the growing problem of cyanobacteria pollution at the lake, as well as help fight poverty there, brought immediate support from local groups already working on the problems and from others experiencing the same cyanobacteria outbreaks in lakes in Canada and America in the form of a thick cover of green algae scum.

Save Lake Atitlan Mission is opening a meeting hall and relief center at the lake to help organize efforts to end the cyanobacteria problem.

“We are also going to deal with poverty on a daily basis and encourage those who need help to contact us or visit us at our new location at the lake starting in June,” said a message sent out by Save Lake Atitlan Mission, adding the specific location of the relief center will soon be announced.

Once known as the most beautiful lake in the world, now Lake Atitlan, a 1000 foot deep volcanic lake 130 square km in size, has been taken over by a massive bloom of cyanobacteria. It entered a toxic phase in 2009, which has caused people to scramble for solutions.

If solutions aren’t put into place quickly, it could mean the end of the basic source of water for the thousands of lake shore inhabitants as well as halting the livelihood of indigenous fisherman.

To read the rest of this article subscribe now!