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Lake Izabal [from "Lago Izabal" - https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_de_Izabal ]

Cultura

En el perímetro del lago se encuentras diversas comunidades Mayas Q'eqchi' que dependen de la pesca como parte integral de su alimentación.

''El Castillo de San Felipe de Lara: Fue construido en 1652 en honor al Oidor Antonio Lara Mangravo con el fin de proteger la región del acecho de los piratas. En el pueden observarse poderosos cañones y sólidas estructuras.''

Polémica

''El gobierno de Guatemala ha concedido una serie de licencias para la explotación del níquel que contienen los montes que rodean el lago. Las minas de níquel se han demostrado contaminantes en otros países. La explotación del níquel de la zona podría conllevar la contaminación del lago con el consiguiente impacto en la naturaleza, la economía y el turismo de la zona.''

''Entre las compañías beneficiarias se encuentra la multinacional privada extranjera "Compañía Guatemalteca del Níquel" y la canadiense Skye Resources que han conseguido las tierras según diversos medios a 120 USD el kilómetro cuadrado. Esto, unido a que las compañías extranjeras de minería que operan en Guatemala sólo pagan al estado el 1% de su beneficio a modo de impuestos, hace sospechar que hubo sobornos en dichas concesiones.''

Culture

There are many indigenous communities surrounding the lake, namely the Mayas Q'eqchi'. The fish in the lake are a major source of nutrition in these people's diet. An aquatic plant known as Hydrilla, which has both positive and negative effects on the ecosystem, has been shown to nourish the existing fish species.

The Castle of San Felipe de Lara: This castle, constructed in 1652 in honor of Judge Antonio Lara Mangravo, was built to protect the region from pirates. The castle is equipped with cannons and sturdy framework throughout.

Controversy

Surrounding Lake Izabal are mountains containing an abundance of nickel. Although nickel mines have been a source of environmental contamination in other countries, the government of Guatemala has granted licenses for nickel exploitation. As in other countries, this endeavor could pollute the lake resulting in environmental degradation, economic repercussions, and a potential decline in tourism. In a similar yet ironic way, a bird that used to live around Lake Atitlán, (a lake that lies on the other side of Guatemala which is approximately 130 miles/209 km away) called the giant grebe, (known as "poc" in Mayan) is now extinct due to the creation of a resort, demonstrating the potential consequences of industrialization for Lake Izabal.

Among the many companies that are involved in this business are the Guatemalan Nickel Company, a foreign private multinational company, and Skye Resources, a Canadian business. Another Canadian mining company, the Anfield Nickel Corporation, was granted a 25-year mining license to extract 100% of the nickel they find in the designated area. Through one way or another these two companies have gained possession of the mining territory for 120 USD per square kilometer. Additionally, they, and other foreign mining companies, have only needed to pay Guatemala a mere 1% in taxes of what they retrieve; this has raised suspicions about whether these mining companies have used bribes to obtain such generous transactions.