San Roque Lake
The Lago San Roque, San Roque and also Dique Embalse San Roque, is a reservoir in central Argentina in the province of Córdoba. It is located in the south of Valle de Punilla, at the western end of the conurbation Gran Córdoba, 25 km from the city of Córdoba.
History and economic use
The first dam was built in 1914 for the purpose of electricity generation and as a water reservoir for Cordoba. The hydroelectric power plant at the time was the largest in the world. 1944 a second dam was built behind the original and significantly increased as the water level. Today the power station plays only a minor role in the power supply, one part has since been decommissioned and turned into a museum. However, the importance of the reservoir for the regulation of drinking water supply for the city of Córdoba is still enormous, since in the region too pronounced Rain (summer) and dry season (winter). Because of the strong population growth is now worked in Carlos Paz water from the reservoir for drinking.
Geography
The lake brings together two relatively water-rich rivers Río San Antonio and Rio Cosquín, both of which originate in the Sierra Grande. Behind the dam San Roque outflow is called Río Suquía or Río Primero.
Population and tourism
Around the Lago San Roque there are many tourist centers. The most important is Villa Carlos Paz (about 60,000 inhabitants) on the south shore, next to it is Bialet Massé ( 5,000 inhabitants) to call on the north shore. There are because of the small size, apart from park-like private facilities, only a few undeveloped sites at the lake, the most significant (about 6 km long) can be found near the dam on the east bank, because there the bank is steep and rocky because of the mountain range of Sierra Chica and can be difficult to built. A serious conservation policy does not take place in this respect, on the contrary extend until today all riparian places her continuously built-up area. Especially in the smaller towns, the population rises sharply: 4% a year in Carlos Paz, 8% ( Bialet Massé, Santa Cruz, Parque Siquiman ) to 12 % (San Roque ) and even 75 % in the case of the smallest village Villa Lago Azul, which has only existed since the early 1990s.
Swimming in the lake is only in a few favored areas because of the high pollution of the water permitted by Carlos Paz. Nevertheless, it is used especially in the summer to practice many water sports (including windsurfing, water ) as well as boat cruises.
Neighboring places
The following cities and towns bordering the Lago San Roque (clockwise from south to north, population in brackets):
- Villa Carlos Paz ( 56 407 )
- Santa Cruz del Lago ( 1637 )
- Villa Lago Azul (169 )
- Parque Villa Siquiman (816 )
- Bialet Massé ( 4543 )
- Comuna San Roque ( 832)
Source of population figures: 2001 census