The depression of Lake Maracaibo is characterized as a structural rift valley. This depression gradually descends as the Sierra de Perijá and the Andes mountain range in Venezuela rise.
Lake Maracaibo is located in western Venezuela, specifically in the state of Zulia. The chroniclers of the lake define it as the great semi-closed bay of Venezuela. It has an area of about 13,500 km² and is the largest lake in the South American region.
The Lake Maracaibo basin was covered by shallow waters for millions of years. Throughout these years sediments and organic remains were deposited that are directly responsible for the lake being the source, today, of one of the most important oil and gas deposits in the country.
The subsoil of the depression has been the subject of multiple investigations for geologists and geographers, since the eccentricity of this depression is a phenomenon recorded in few parts of the world, which, while sinking, has one of the largest sources of wealth in the world. Venezuela and connects with the Caribbean Sea.
Lake Maracaibo makes Maracaibo the most important city from a demographic point of view after the capital, Caracas.
The potential of the area is immense, in view of the importance of the lake and the lands of the eastern coast that are conducive to agricultural and livestock activities.
Constitution of the depression of Lake Maracaibo
The depression of the lake is the subject of various interpretations about what may happen to it. It is not known for sure if the wealth that is located in its subsoil will stop lower or will remain in the point to continue extracting them.
The subsoil strata of the depression are made up of sandstones, shales and groups of rocks of different geological ages. Drilling them is what allows the extraction of gas and oil.
Some environmentalists argue that the damage that has been done to the lake by the thirst for oil is incalculable. The extraction of it destroyed the marine fauna and flora, giving rise to a polluted lake that only serves for maritime navigation and oil activity.
At the beginning of the Oligocene period, the Andes mountain range and the Perijá mountain range rose constantly while the weight of the lake's sediments caused it to sink more and more. This process gave rise to the current physiognomy of the northwestern area of the country.
One of the most important characteristics of the lake is that it is directly connected to the sea, this only happens with this lake in the whole world. However, this was not always the case, during the Miocene period the sea waters penetrated the lake, which led to a significant increase in sedimentation.
The sedimentation of the rivers eroded the mountains of the region, when the sea gradually recedes and the mountains continue to rise and the sedimentation increases even more.
These sedimentary layers are known by the name of La Rosa formations, and it is what has made possible one of the most important sources of energy wealth in the country.
Relief of depression
- Barboza, F. (2003) Lake Maracaibo In National History. Editorial Alfa. Venezuela
- Codazzi, A. (1841) Summary Of The Geography Of Venezuela. Editorial Planeta. Venezuela
- Maracaibo lake. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
- Chroniclers of Lake Maracaibo (2001) V Centennial of Lake Maracaibo. Unermb Editorial Fund. Venezuela.
- Mendéz, R. (2001) Peoples and Cultures of the Lake Maracaibo Basin. Editorial Tropykos. Venezuela.
- Vila, M. (1952) Geographical Aspects Of Zulia. Editorial Kapeluz Venezolana. Venezuela.