Drought and mismanagement have turned Lake Colhué Huapí, once the size of New York City, in Argentina’s southern Patagonia region into a virtual dustbowl. Now the race is on to save its sister lake from the same fate, The Guardian reports. To the west, Lake Musters, an essential source of water for the region shimmers under the scorching sun.
The loss of Lake Colhué Huapí is a result of a history of management decisions in a losing battle to protect water levels in Lake Musters, which serves as a reservoir for the region. When Lake Musters’ shoreline began receding in 2017, local people began urging action. The grassroots group Abrazo El Musters was formed, and a handful of Sarmiento teachers, parents and citizens began protesting regularly. They called for action and demanded more transparency from government officials on their plans. Guille Gettig, 57, a retired primary school teacher who co-founded the group, says:
“We have to think about solutions, not just for one’s own life, but for the coming generations. I don’t want my grandson to leave because he is forced to, because it’s uninhabitable. If he leaves here it should be because it was his choice.”
