Deborah Flores, RN, EdD, MBA E-mail

Lake Atitlan is a large lake approximately 340 meters deep, situated in the Guatemalan highlands. It is flanked by several volcanoes and surrounded by towns and villages inhabited by descendents of Mayan people. They are proud and strong people. The lake itself is one of the most beautiful in the world.

This lake supports coffee and farm crops. Most of the indigenous population survives on very little money as they make a living from the land. The lake is a major life force in their lives. There is cyclical contamination from fertilizer run-off, etc., which leads to bouts of cyanobacteria in the lake.

Although the weather is temperate, the rainy season brings mudslides and flooding, which has been known to destroy homes, commercial property and lives.

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