BajaNomad - Laguna Chapala Is now Lake Laguna Chapala

Laguna Chapala Is now Lake Laguna Chapala

Ken Cooke - 2-22-2019 at 08:34 AM

You gotta see Laguna Chapala :!:

It's a Lake due to recent rainstorms.

TacoFeliz - 2-22-2019 at 09:09 AM

Hence the name "laguna", no?

thebajarunner - 2-22-2019 at 10:16 AM

We had to detour in the 1972 1000
It was a mudhole then
The road around the east side was really a rough track compared to the smooth course across the lake

David K - 2-22-2019 at 10:24 AM

The lake was covered with water in 2010 during our trip to Mission Santa María. BajaTripper was there and photographed it before joining us at Rancho Santa Ynez.

BajaTripper pic, May 2010:

[Edited on 2-22-2019 by David K]

chuckie - 2-22-2019 at 10:30 AM

1972 Was the year when we abandoned a Prerunner at Lake Lake Chapala. It went from being a prerunner to becoming a landmark. Carcass may be still there....

StuckSucks - 2-22-2019 at 11:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

You gotta see Laguna Chapala :!:

It's a Lake due to recent rainstorms.

Photos would be cool. Imagining a lake is not as much fun as seeing the real thing.

fishbuck - 2-22-2019 at 12:51 PM

Wow. So much rain.

mtgoat666 - 2-22-2019 at 04:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Laguna Chapala Is now Lake Laguna Chapala

You gotta see Laguna Chapala :!:

It's a Lake due to recent rainstorms.

So you are telling us that laguna chapala is now a laguna. I think it has always been a laguna, eh?

David K - 2-22-2019 at 05:55 PM

A couple more photos of Laguna Chapala from May 2010 (BajaTripper's camera):

Bajatripper - 2-22-2019 at 05:59 PM

Thanks for the plug, David. I really enjoyed that outing to Mission Santa Maria, we'll have to do it again sometime. I certainly do miss my days in Baja from up here in the Pacific Northwest, even though the recent snows we've had are nice in their own way. My Mexican kids have gotten a kick out of the snow, their first to see in person.

David K - 2-22-2019 at 06:28 PM

Great to hear from you, Steve!!!!

willardguy - 2-22-2019 at 06:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Laguna Chapala Is now Lake Laguna Chapala

You gotta see Laguna Chapala :!:

It's a Lake due to recent rainstorms.

So you are telling us that laguna chapala is now a laguna. I think it has always been a laguna, eh?

wet or dry its a laguna, but not a lago

Ken Cooke - 2-23-2019 at 06:20 AM

I will get us some updates photos today :light:

flatfeat - 2-23-2019 at 08:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Laguna Chapala Is now Lake Laguna Chapala

You gotta see Laguna Chapala :!:

It's a Lake due to recent rainstorms.

So you are telling us that laguna chapala is now a laguna. I think it has always been a laguna, eh?

wet or dry its a laguna, but not a lago

Lake Chapala has had water in it for decades and in the last ten years, it's been at about 65% capacity after the rainy season. Last year it got to around 90%.

Not sure what "wet or dry it's a laguna, but not a lago" means. A lagoon is a word for a body of fresh water next to salt water. So to call the lake a lagoon (in English) is wrong. It is, however, how the locals refer to the lake. Laguna DE Chapala (not Laguna Chapala).

thebajarunner - 2-23-2019 at 09:07 AM

Actually it is a "Laguna Seca" (Can you hear the race cars?)

Which has occasional seasonal rainwater collected therein.

Thus ends the lesson.....

David K - 2-23-2019 at 01:48 PM

In Baja Norte, normally dry lakes that may be covered with water during wet months are called Laguna, same as lagoon.

In Baja Sur, they are called Llano, same as a plain.

JZ - 2-23-2019 at 04:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks

Photos would be cool. Imagining a lake is not as much fun as seeing the real thing.

Here you go.

[Edited on 2-24-2019 by BajaNomad]

StuckSucks - 2-24-2019 at 10:42 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks

Photos would be cool. Imagining a lake is not as much fun as seeing the real thing.

Here you go.

That's an über-cool shot, but was looking for more of the water/flooded type.

computerguy - 2-24-2019 at 10:56 AM

EDIT: revising my post to indicate the Lake Chapala to which I am referring is obviously (now) not the one y'all are talking about.

Lake Chapala, or Lago de Chapala, or Lago Chapala, has never been referred to as a lagoon. Water levels vary depending on annual rainfall (June through October is the Rainy).

It is currently enjoying one of the highest levels in several years, but one must remember that it is not just the rain that fills the lake: dams upstream, when they are filled, release the water (Lerma River into the Lake Chapala Basin).

[Edited on 2-25-2019 by computerguy]

willardguy - 2-24-2019 at 10:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by computerguy

Lake Chapala, or Lago de Chapala, or Lago Chapala, has never been referred to as a lagoon. Water levels vary depending on annual rainfall (June through October is the Rainy). There have been no "recent rainstorms".

It is currently enjoying one of the highest levels in several years, but one must remember that it is not just the rain that fills the lake: dams upstream, when they are filled, release the water (Lerma River into the Lake Chapala Basin).

At no time has the lake ever been dry. There are two dry lakes some kilometers west of here.

wrong Chapala :no:

computerguy - 2-24-2019 at 12:40 PM

Oh, is this a different place? If so, apologies. ... Mike

[Edited on 2-24-2019 by computerguy]

David K - 2-24-2019 at 01:42 PM

On a Baja forum, Laguna Chapala is a normally dry lake in Baja California (where Hwy. 1 and Hwy. 5 meet).

On a Jalisco or mainland Mexico forum, Lago de Chapala is the big lake south of Guadalajara.

Wrong Chapala

computerguy - 2-25-2019 at 07:45 AM

Huh, thanks for that. Did not know there was another. Here's why I posted: my phone pushes stories to me, based on geolocation and interests. I got a notification under the heading "Lake Chapala", so followed it here. Was curious why it is the Baja forum, but thought there was probably just interest in my Lake Chapala area. Will revise my earlier post. ... Mike

David K - 2-25-2019 at 09:18 AM

In Mexico, the same name is used many times for different places. In Baja California, names like San José, La Bocana, Agua Caliente, El Coyote, etc. are reused frequently.

StuckSucks - 2-25-2019 at 01:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by computerguy

Oh, is this a different place? If so, apologies. ... Mike

Here is the place being discussed.

Two more Lugunas

PaulW - 2-25-2019 at 03:41 PM

Two more I wonder if the have water?
INEGI view

TMW - 2-25-2019 at 05:13 PM

The one at the bottom across hwy 1 from Chapala will have water in it. Any rain will go in it when Chapala is still dry or the ground is wet.

David K - 2-25-2019 at 05:22 PM

Laguna El Islote

bajabuddha - 2-25-2019 at 05:52 PM

Dunno if you read about it, the San Augustin area (El Marmol turnoff area) was a post-Pleistocene fresh water lake for many moons during the temperate period. Turtle shells (not tortoise) can be found there. In that period (10k B.C. mas o meno) up until ???? there were many springs, lakes and fresh rivers flowing all over Baja.

As an eminent geologist friend once told me, "earth happens!" :coolup:

StuckSucks - 2-26-2019 at 06:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

As an eminent geologist friend once told me, "earth happens!" :coolup:

We really need to stop plate tectonics.

Marc - 2-27-2019 at 02:08 PM

In all of my Baja travels I have never seen water in Chapala. Hope some of it is still there late April. Maps have it as 'Laguna' so I would go with that.

basautter - 2-27-2019 at 05:24 PM

Cool! Any recent pics?

advrider - 2-27-2019 at 08:04 PM

I will take some next week and report back.

Laguna Chapala, May 2019

David K - 1-30-2020 at 03:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by basautter

Cool! Any recent pics?

Sorry I missed seeing this last year... Pics taken 3 months after you asked:

Quite Dry!