Lake Sibinacocha

Lake Sibinacocha[1][2] (possibly from Quechua siwina whistle, qucha lake, lagoon)[3] is a lake in Peru. It is ranked as the 22nd[4] highest lake in the world. It is located in the Cusco Region, Canchis Province, Pitumarca District.[2] The lake is situated at a height of approximately 4,873 metres (15,988 ft), about 15.19 km long and 2.86 km at its widest point, and drains into the Amazon River.[5] Sibinacocha lies in the Vilcanota Range, south of Chumpe and southwest of Condoriquiña.[1]

Lake Sibinacocha
Lake Sibinacocha with Chumpe in the background
Lake Sibinacocha
Location	Cusco Region
Coordinates	13°51′24″S 71°01′30″W
Basin countries	Peru
Max. length	15.19 km (9.44 mi)
Max. width	2.86 km (1.78 mi)
Surface elevation	4,873 m (15,988 ft)
Website	The Sibinacocha Watershed Project

Sibinacocha Dam
Location of Sibinacocha Dam in Peru
Opening date	1996
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Earthen dam
Height	12 m (39 ft)
Length	357 m (1,171 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity	110,000,000 m3 (89,000 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Operator(s)	EGEMSA
Website Represa de Sibinacocha

The lake contains Inca artifact, some of which have been recovered from the lake.[5] Sacred sites around the lake have been studied as possible locations of the lost Ausangate temple.[6] The area has been studied for its importance to the greater Urubamba-Vilcanota watershed.[6] A high-altitude diver, Geoffrey Belter, died in 2014 while exploring the lake.[6]

An earthen dam was erected at the lake in 1996.[7] It is 357 m (1,171 ft) long and 12 m (39 ft) high.[7] The reservoir has a volume of 50,000 m³ (41 acre⋅ft) and a capacity of 110,000,000 m³ (89,000 acre⋅ft).[7] It is operated by EGEMSA.[7]