Bolivia’s once mighty saltwater Lake Poopo has been transformed into a dusty, dry desert. At an altitude of nearly 3,700 meters, it was formerly Bolivia’s second largest lake after Titicaca. Fishermen who depended on the lake to make a living are out of work, and 200 species of birds, mammals, fish and reptiles have been wiped out. Various factors leading to its disappearance have been cited, but most scientists focus on climate change along with the “El Niño” phenomenon. This isn’t the first time Lake Poopo has vanished, but some fear it may be the last. teleSUR
