Lake Cote (Spanish: Lago Cote), originally known as Lake Cóter, is a fresh water crater lake located in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. It is currently the largest natural lake in Costa Rica at 1.98-square-kilometre (0.76 sq mi). Its depth varies between 6 and 18 meters.[1][2]
Lake Cote | |
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Coordinates | 10.581389°N 84.911667°W / 10.581389; -84.911667 |
Type | crater lake |
Max. length | 1 km (0.62 mi) |
Surface area | 1.983 km2 (0.766 sq mi) |
Max. depth | 18 m (59 ft) |
Surface elevation | 680 m (2,230 ft) |
Located in Cote district, Guatuso canton, of Alajuela province, between the Arenal Volcano and Tenorio Volcano. Nearby is located the largest lake in Costa Rica, Lake Arenal, of artificial origin.[3]
It is a crater lake of Maar type with a heart-like ovoid shape and a 1 km diameter. Average depth is of 6.30m and maximum depth is 18m at the center area.
It is the natural drainage of River Cote.
Average water temperature is around 21.9 °C and 27.9 °C.
The lake is used for tourism, subsistence fishing, hydropower electricity generation and as a conservation area. It is regarded as a sacred place by the local Maleku people.[3]
On 4 September 1971, during an aerial survey by the National Geographic Institute of Costa Rica, what looks like a UFO was photographed over Lake Cote (see photo).