Lake Yojoa

Largest lake in Honduras You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish.  (October 2024) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Lago de Yojoa]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|es|Lago de Yojoa}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. Lake YojoaLago de YojoaLake YojoaLago de YojoaCoordinates14°52′01″N 87°58′59″W / 14.867°N 87.983°W / 14.867; -87.983Basin countriesHondurasSurface area79 km2 (31 sq mi)Average depth15 m (49 ft)Surface elevationc. 700 m (2,300 ft)Ramsar WetlandOfficial nameSubcuenca del Lago de YojoaDesignated5 June 2005Reference no.1467 Lake YojoaSatellite photo of Lake YojoaHighest pointElevation700 m (2,300 ft)Coordinates14°52′01″N 87°58′59″W / 14.867°N 87.983°W / 14.867; -87.983GeographyLocationHondurasGeologyMountain typeVolcanic field with lava-dammed lakeLast eruptionUnknown Lake Yojoa is the largest lake in Honduras with a surface area of 79 square kilometers (31 square miles) and an average depth of 15 meters (49 feet). At an altitude of 700 meters (2,300 feet), it lies in a depression formed by volcanoes. The Lake Yojoa volcanic field consists of Pleistocene to Holocene scoria cones, craters, and lava flows. The west side of the lake is bordered by steep mountains and Santa Bárbara National Park while the east side is adjacent to Cerro Azul Meambar National Park. The lake is situated on the highway that connects the two largest Honduran cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. For many people traveling between the cities, the lake serves as a rest area where they can appreciate the view and enjoy the fresh fried fish and other foods that are offered by the restaurants located on its banks. Lake Yojoa is a popular fishing destination and the surrounding area has a rich biodiversity—almost 400 species of birds and 800 plant species have been identified in the region. However, it also is threatened by deforestation, cattle ranching, and development. The settlers of the communities around the lake are dedicated to the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and basic grains. Nevertheless, many of these inhabitants earn their living from the sale of fish originating from the lake. People dedicate surrounding areas to the growing of coffee plants. Coffee grown near Lake Yojoa, in Santa Barbara, is particularly well-known.[citation needed]