Waña Quta (Oruro)

Wana Quta (also: Huañakota, Huaña Kota, Huaña Khota Huaña Kkota, Huayñakota, Huaña Q'ota ) is a lake on the western edge of the plateau country of the South American Andean Republic of Bolivia.

Location in near space

Wana Quta ( Aymara: wana = dry, Quta = lake ) is located a few kilometers east of the border with Chile at the foot of Sajama, Bolivia's highest mountain, in the district ( bolivian: Municipio) Curahuara de Carangas in the province of Sajama in the department of Oruro. Nearest towns are Sajama few kilometers south-west and north-east of Wana Caripe Quta.

Size and flow system

Wana Quta lies at an altitude of 4350 m and extends from southwest to northeast over a length of 1200 meters and reaches a width of up to 500 meters, the shoreline of the lake is 3.4 kilometers. The lake is fed by the glacial waters of the Sajama in the southeast and the Anallajsi north of the lake.

Main outflow of the lake is the Río Tomarapi which leaves the lake and flows in a northeasterly direction to the Río Cosapa out of turn in the course comes to an end in endorheic salt lake Salar de Coipasa. To the south east is at certain seasons and leakage to Rio Sajama, which flows past the town of Sajama over the Río Lauca out also tributary to the Salar de Coipasa.

Sajama National Park

The lake is situated in the Sajama National Park and whereabouts of Andean high mountain birds such as herons, Punaente, sharp-tailed duck, Andensäbelschnäbler, Rüsselblässhuhn and ruddy duck.