XOCHIMILCO LAKE: HISTORY, FLORA, FAUNA, POLLUTION - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Lake Xochimilco is pure history of Mexico City. Its fresh waters supply the vital liquid to the lake system of the capital, the most populated area of ​​the country, along with the Xaltocan, Zumpango, Texcoco and Chalco lakes.

From its origins, fishing and planting quickly became the main activities thanks to the natural resources that surrounded it, as well as its trail of paradisiacal location, deep green with a great diversity of vegetation and animals that give life to its channels, those which have given it the title of "Little Venice".

The trajineras on Lake Xochimilco. Andres Suarez123000

History

In the beginning of its existence, the Xochimilco lake boasted crystalline waters that reflected the sky like a mirror. Before the Spanish yoke fell on its natural wonders, tribes such as the Nahuas, Xochimilcas and Mexicas inhabited its surroundings.

The Xochimilcas tribe was the first –of among seven Nahuatlaca tribes- to arrive at the Anahuac Valley, coming from Chicomoztoc. After staying a while up the hill, they settled down land, where they would find a source of sustenance that until today is considered an indispensable part of the tradition.

When they were surrounded by water and forced to subsist in this ecosystem, the locals managed to apply a technique that would allow them to grow vegetables and plants. Thus they created the chinampas, an ingenious system of agriculture built on the surface of the waters of the lake.

These species of floating gardens had such an impact that they are considered one of the most impressive Aztec devices. In 1987, both Lake Xochimilco and its chinampas were declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Later, when commercial activity and political power began to become strong and predominant, the commercial connection with the city took place. The lake began to supply endless fertile lands for planting and other riches.

Likewise, the inhabitants joined the war and were distributed by different platoons throughout the Mexican national territory. But despite the resistance, the Spanish invasion prevailed and established the conquest of Lake Xochimilco, in 1521.

Flora and fauna

Plants and flowers

The lake vegetation of Lake Xochimilco includes trees that are considered sacred such as the ahuejote or willow, which are formed as rows bordering the chinampas as they serve as support. These generate large amounts of oxygen.

Also eucalyptus, camphor, casuarinas and plants such as espanadas, lily, navajillo, tule and salmon, yellow and white nymphs, the most difficult to find anywhere in the world.

In the wooded area that perches in the highest part of the lake live species of trees such as pines, oaks, cedars and ocotes, among many others.

But perhaps the most striking and characteristic facet of this aquatic area of ​​Xochimilco are its flowers, which frame the entire city in an atmosphere full of color and captivating aromas.

Legend has it that in Xochimilco Xochipilli and Xochiquetzal were worshiped, the first prince of flowers and the second a rich puma flower goddess, who with their divine creations adorned the surroundings of the Mexica tribe.

And from there to that Xochimilco translates into Nahuatl "the place where flowers are grown", which in effect is: floripondio, estatil, sunflower, dahlia, azalea, mecadela, carnation, carnation and gladiola are just some of the flowers that they occur in this natural wonder.

That's why plant and flower markets abound on weekends, selling a wide range of species to passersby, from decorative to medicinal. Among the most popular are the Madre selva market, El Palacio de la Flor and the Flores de Cuemanaco market.

Animal species

Amphibians, birds, rodents and reptiles coexist in the aquatic, terrestrial and aerial fauna that inhabit Lake Xochimilco. Among them are species such as the black-bellied water snake, rat snake, freshwater tilapia, different types of ducks and frogs, among others.

The birds range from gray, silver, and white herons, magpies, sparrows, gulls, owls, pelicans, owls, and hawks. A very extensive and diverse list of aerial fauna that does not stop growing and diversifying.

Contamination

Of the five most important lakes that supply Mexico City, Xochimilco is almost the last survivor. The capital is almost completely dependent on the assortment of this area, which represents the most extensive recharge of the aquifer.

Different organized networks that defend its conservation constantly denounce that the lake receives an exploitation that goes beyond its capacities to supply water, in addition to the pollution without measure that it suffers daily.

This puts in check a large number of species that inhabit its ecosystem and that are in danger of extinction, such as the nymph, the Mexican duck, the cedar and the hooded turtle.

Water scarcity is one of the problems that has led the lake to its worst today. Thus, the government created a new drainage system that conducts the waters of Xochimilco to other areas of the immense Mexico City, to supply them with liquid.

The supply failures caused them to begin to fill the valley of Mexico with treated sewage, which has taken away the purity and crystallinity of the area. All added to the discharges of domestic waste and the chemical and biological contamination of foreign species that reach their limits.

But the efforts to conserve the water resources of a historic area like Xochimilco are maintained and expanded through organizations that develop plans and projects to eradicate all these evils and not only conserve the lake, but also recover its purity.

Postcards of Xochimilco

Meanwhile, a part of the canals of little Mexican Venice continues to be the meeting place par excellence, where tourists are offered trips in the popular Trajineras de Xochimilco, boats full of color and Mexican idiosyncrasy that cross the waters of the lake. evoking its historical past among the natural beauty that surrounds it.

References

1. Cdmx travel, website of the Government of Mexico for tourism in the capital. cdmxtravel.com
2. Redes AC calls to conserve Xochimilco, the last great lake in the Valley of Mexico. Article of the digital newspaper Sin Embargo, published in October 2015.
3. The chinampas, an ancient and efficient food production system. Article from the website of the Government of Mexico. gob.mx
4. Website of the Government of Mexico City. xochimilco.gob.mx
5. Xochimilco, channels with history. Article of the Vanguardia newspaper, published on August 1, 2016.