Lake Huechulafquen changed color

 
I came across an interesting article [1] at the Argentina's government Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Council for Scientific and Technical Investigations), published a few days ago (Sept. 3, 2010).

Facts

It says that about ten days ago (around Aug. 25), Lake Huechulafquen's color changed and is no longer colored deep blue but instead it is turquoise. Locals are worried and asked CONICET to investigate the matter.

Some neighbors have said that a similar phenomenon happened in the 1970s after an earthquake in the area. Yet other locals have said that they never saw anything like it before.

This change in color has not affected two small lakes (Paimún -see my post on its Lake creature- and Epulafquen) which are joined to Huechulafquen's main body (they are actually two long fjords or arms of the main lake.

This lake is home to a Lake Cow and a lake monster known as Huechulito.

Explanation

Samples taken from streams that flow into the lake show normal parameters. In my opinion they are looking in the wrong place.

Perhaps the cause of the strange color is volcanic activity by Lanín volcano, which stands over the lake with its beautiful cone. Though inactive, it may be belching gases into the lake's bed. There are hot water springs on the southern side of the lake, close to Lake Epulafquen.

A little googling shows that volcanic lakes take on a turquoise hue due to minerals in the water that reflect / refract light differently to pure water causing it to shift color. An example of this is Lake Poas in Costa Rica.

Furthermore another article clearly states that: "One feature of volcanic lakes influenced by subaqueous fumaroles existing at lake bottoms (called active crater lakes) is the remarkable color of their waters: turquoise or emerald green."[2]

Lets hope that these changes (i.e. lower ph due to increased acidity) do not harm the local fauna and especially the cryptids.

UPDATE - Sept. 20, 2010

The CONICET experts have said that their preliminary findings indicates that the color of the lake may be due to sediments from the lake's bed blending into the water due to recent earthquakes in Chile. They are going to analyze samples taken from the lake which may take some time.


Sources
[1] CONICET
[2] Ohsawa Shinji et al. (2010) Color change of lake water at the active crater lake of Aso volcano, Yudamari, Japan: is it in response to change in water quality induced by volcanic activity? Limnology. 2010, vol. 11, no3, pp. 207-215

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Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia

2010 International Year of Biodiversity Copyright 2009-2010 by Austin Whittall © 

Lake Paimun creature

 

Map of Lake Paimun Area. Austin Whittall

Lake Paimun is actually the northern arm of Lake Huechulafquen (which is the abode of the Huechulito lake creature), it is also close Aucapan (which is haunted by another monster).

With a surface area of 29.2 km² (11.3 sq. mi.) it has a roughly semi-circular shape; it is 14 km (8.7 mi.) long and not more than 2 km (1.2 mi.) wide. A calm, deep lake, with a spectacular view of Lanín volcano.

Its name, in Mapuche language means "lacking love". It derives from the words Pay, the familiar and tender word that children use to name their mothers or older women that should be respected or loved; and the word mun, which means to need, to deserve. Hence, Paimun = orphan, who needs a mother, lacking love.[4]

A rather strange name for a lake!

Paimun (39°43'S, 71°35'W) joins Lake Huechulafquen at the Angostura Pichi Cuyín (Small Apple Narrows), which is partly filled in by landslides along the valley of the Rucu Leufu River, which is fed by the glaciers on the Lanín Volcano (3.776 m - 12,380 ft.). These landslides must have provoked tsunamis in the lakes and severe flooding.[1]

Trelque the "Cuero" of Lake Paimun.

According to local folklorist, Gregorio Alvarez, this tiny lake is said to be the home of a "lake genie" or Trelque. This creature lived in the deep waters of Paimun and stalked the women who came close to its shores.

Trelque is the Mapuche word for "hide" (in Spanish = Cuero)[3]; and I have written about the cuero in previous posts. However, it seems to me that this particular Trelque is not the usual kind of cuero.

The local myth, as told by Alvarez, is the following:

One day, while a young girl named Huala, was filling her flask by the lake, "a claw suddenly emerged from the shore and grabbed her firmly, dragging her to the deepest part of a pool [...] Huala, like so many others, had been submerged by the so called "cuero".[2]

Huala was taken by Trelque to a cave in the deepest part of a sheer cliff, and there she saw the decapitated remains of other victims of this monster.[2]

The story then goes on to tell that Trelque morphed into a handsome man and told Huala that he was in love with her, and that he would not kill her. As she wanted to go back to her home, he used his magic powers to keep her close but happy: he turned her into an aquatic bird, the Huala.

It is interesting to note that the Trelque creature, unlike the regular variety of Cuero, lived in a cave and out of the water, indicating an amphibious being. This is not a stingray, it is another kind of monster.

Bibliography.

[1] Mancino, C., (2007). Thesis. Online
[2] Alvarez, G. (1969). Donde estuvo el Paraiso. Ed. Pehuén. pp. 167-169.
[3] Augusta, F., (1916). Diccionario Araucano - Español y Español - Araucano. Santiago. Impr. Universitaria. pp. 94.
[4] San Martín, F., (1919). Neuquén. Impr. Rodríguez Giles.

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Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia

2010 International Year of Biodiversity Copyright 2009-2010 by Austin Whittall ©