Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

Freshwater Lacustrine Ecosystem (Shallow, Non-Stratified)

Type of Habitat Inland freshwater lacustrine ecosystem

General Description for Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

Lagoons and shallow lakes in Costa Rica are permanent or semi-permanent bodies of standing freshwater, typically less than 15 meters deep and rich in aquatic vegetation. These ecosystems are vital refuges for waterbirds, amphibians, fish, and aquatic plants. They serve as feeding and breeding grounds and act as hydrological buffers that store and regulate freshwater flow. Some are natural (e.g., oxbow lakes, volcanic craters), while others are formed by human activity or natural flooding in wetlands.

Threats for Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

Ecosystem Type

  • Type: Inland freshwater lacustrine ecosystem
  • Holdridge live zone: Found in Tropical Wet Forest, Moist Forest, and Swamp Forest zones
  • Avarage Altitude: 0–1,500 meters above sea level
  • Avarage Climate: Humid tropical, with still or slow-moving freshwater and seasonal water level variation
  • Precipitations: 2,000–5,000 mm annually; water levels fluctuate with seasonal rains and evaporation rates

Where in Costa Rica can you find Lagoons and Shallow Lakes?

📍Northern Zone (Caño Negro, Medio Queso, Los Chiles)
📍Caribbean Lowlands (Barra del Colorado, Parismina)
📍Pacific lowlands and deltas (Laguna Mata Redonda, Térraba-Sierpe system)
📍Volcanic craters (e.g., Lake Hule, Lake Botos – small but notable)

Conservartion areas for Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

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Threats for Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

⚠️Eutrophication from agricultural runoff
⚠️Drainage for livestock and rice fields
⚠️Invasive aquatic plants
⚠️Water diversion and altered hydrology

National Parks and reserves with this habitat

  • Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge (Ramsar Site)

  • Palo Verde National Park

  • Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge

  • Laguna Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge

 

Additonal Data.

Best Season to visitLagoons and Shallow Lakes

Comments and notes

Remarcable Fauna in Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

No data was found

Remarcable Florga in Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

Remarcable Fungi in Lagoons and Shallow Lakes

Ecosystem Type

  • Type: Inland freshwater lacustrine ecosystem
  • Holdridge live zone: Found in Tropical Wet Forest, Moist Forest, and Swamp Forest zones
  • Avarage Altitude: 0–1,500 meters above sea level
  • Avarage Climate: Humid tropical, with still or slow-moving freshwater and seasonal water level variation

Origins & Record

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