CNN
 — 

A well-liked lake in central Mexico that may be a main vacationer vacation spot through the Day of the Lifeless festivities is drying up attributable to drought, deforestation, and the theft of its water.

Lake Patzcuaro within the western state of Michoacán has misplaced greater than half its quantity since authorities began monitoring its falling water ranges, based on a brand new report from CNN affiliate Televisa.

The lake, which is a part of a municipality that shares its title and is also called the “magical city,” is being affected by a number of “environmental elements” and the “illicit extraction of water,” based on Patzcuaro’s native authorities.

The municipality says {that a} new committee created in April to assist save the lake has already prevented the theft of “600,000 liters of water per day.”

Authorities say droughts are additionally affecting the lake, each as a result of its water ranges aren’t being replenished and since dry spells encourage criminals to siphon off its water to promote it on.

Each the city of Patzcuaro and its lake are main vacationer locations, particularly throughout its November Day of the Lifeless festivities.

In a 25-minute video that has gone viral on social media, YouTuber El Perepeche walks over cracked soil the place as soon as there was water.

“As you possibly can see, it’s all dry,” the YouTuber says as he walks over the soil.

The alarming scenes within the video, which exhibits some water from the shores of Janitzio Island, contrasts starkly to the pictures of fishermen and small boats that seem in authorities tourism movies of the lake.

Specialists informed Televisa that deforestation in surrounding areas was additionally affecting the lake’s water ranges.

They mentioned that when elements of the lake dried out it was widespread for individuals to plant crops and choose the brand new land.