Bolivia's second largest lake, Poopo, has completely evaporated. This was reported by the European Space Agency (ESA) after analyzing satellite images.
The disappearance of the salt lake was recorded by ESA's Proba-V mini-satellite, which monitors the earth's surface. The gradual evaporation of the reservoir, which previously occupied an area of 3 thousand square kilometers, was confirmed by images taken in April 2014, July 2015 and January 2016.
The shallow depth of the lake - about 3 meters - as well as its location in arid terrain made Poopo sensitive to climate change, the ESA noted. This is not the first time that the lake has evaporated: the first such case was recorded in 1994. At the same time, experts fear that this time it may take years to restore Poopo, while it may disappear altogether.
The drainless salt lake Poopo was located 130 kilometers south of the city of Oruro and was considered a stopping place for migratory birds, including flamingos. Poopo was considered the second largest lake in Bolivia after Titicaca.