The announced death of the Lempa River - Cristobal Venegas photographer

Work in progress...

The announced death of the Lempa River.

This multimedia is a small record of a documentary work in progress about the destruction of the Lempa River, from its beginnings to its mouth, passing through three Central American countries, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, with a length of 422 km. Mining, agrochemicals and plastic are the major pollutants of the river and its flora and fauna that feed the biodiversity of the three Central American countries.

(spanish)

La muerte anunciada del río Lempa.

Este multimedia es un pequeño registro de un trabajo documental en proceso sobre la destrucción del río Lempa, desde sus inicios hacia su desembocadura, pasando por tres países de centro américa, Guatemala, Honduras y El Salvador, con una longitud de 422 km. Las minerías, los agrotóxicos y el plástico estos son los mayores contaminantes del río y de su flora y fauna que alimenta la biodiversidad de los tres países centroamericanos

The announced death of the Lempa River - View of the landscape towards the Cerrón Grande reservoir...

View of the landscape towards the Cerrón Grande reservoir in the department of Chalatenango, Municipality of Suhitoto. February 2, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live in Cerrón Grande, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds, as well as aquatic species and mangrove reproduction, where the lake advances along the river El Desagüe and joins the river Lempa, according to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). SUSHITOTO Y POTONICO SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - A family rides a motorcycle on the shores of Lake Güija...

A family rides a motorcycle on the shores of Lake Güija in the municipality of Metapan, in the town of Cuevitas. January 31, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live on Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds. According to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Some of the plastic waste arriving from the cities of El...

Some of the plastic waste arriving from the cities of El Salvador, in the Department of Chalatenango, municipality of Potonico, February 2, 2023. The most critical point of contamination is at the mouth of the Lempa River, where approximately 208,200 kilograms of untreated plastic reach the sea each year. So many tons of plastic are produced by poor waste management in a population of 3.8 million people in the Lempa River watershed. SUSHITOTO Y POTONICO SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Don Maximiliano Perez, throws a fishing net on the shore...

Don Maximiliano Perez, throws a fishing net on the shore of Lake Güija in the department of Metapan, municipality of Cuevitas. January 31, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live on Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds. According to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Don Maximiliano Perez, carries in his boat the fish that...

Don Maximiliano Perez, carries in his boat the fish that he bought from his friend in the early morning, after not being able to have good results with his fishing in the municipality of Metapan in the town of Cuevitas. February 1st, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live in Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds, as well as aquatic species and mangrove reproduction, where the lake advances along the river El Desagüe and joins the river Lempa, according to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Mirna Margarita and Don Maximiliano Pérez examine fishing...

Mirna Margarita and Don Maximiliano Pérez examine fishing nets on the shores of Lake Güija in the department of Metapan, municipality of Cuevitas. January 31, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live on Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds. According to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - A fish is found dead on the banks of the Lempa river in...

A fish is found dead on the banks of the Lempa river in the department of Chalatenango municipality Suchitoto February 2, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live in Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds, as well as aquatic species and mangrove reproduction, where the lake advances along the river El Desagüe and joins the river Lempa, according to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). SUSHITOTO Y POTONICO SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Mirna Margarita is an environmentalist belonging to the...

Mirna Margarita is an environmentalist belonging to the feminist women's group of El Salvador, who take care of the waters of Lake Guija, she and her partner Carlos are in charge of monitoring the water of the lake, this lake is the main water supplier of El Salvador. January 31, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live on Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds. According to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Don Maximiliano Perez, carries in his hand the fish he...

Don Maximiliano Perez, carries in his hand the fish he has bought to be able to eat with his family in the municipality of Metapán in the town of Cuevitas. February 1, 2023 The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live in Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds, as well as aquatic species and mangrove reproduction, where the lake advances along the river El Desagüe and joins the river Lempa, according to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - The communities living near the Lempa River are cleaning...

The communities living near the Lempa River are cleaning up plastic and other waste along the banks of the river in the department of Chalatenango, in the town of Potonico, February 2, 2023. The most critical point of contamination is at the mouth of the Lempa River, where approximately 208,200 kilograms of untreated plastic reach the sea each year. So many tons of plastic are produced by poor waste management in a population of 3.8 million people in the Lempa River watershed. SUSHITOTO Y POTONICO SALVADOR

The announced death of the Lempa River - Ducks are migratory birds that coexist in the...

Ducks are migratory birds that coexist in the biodiversity of Guija Lake in the municipality of Metapan in the town of Cuevitas, February 1, 2023. The decrease of fish has been a problem for the communities that live in Lake Güija, the high concentrations of arsenic and chromium are generating instability in the area that is home to hundreds of migratory birds, as well as aquatic species and mangrove reproduction, where the lake advances along the river El Desagüe and joins the river Lempa, according to studies by Fundalempa, it is estimated that 63% of the water consumed comes from this basin (most of San Salvador is supplied by its waters). CUEVITAS SALVADOR