Travel Guide Laguna De Guatavita

This famous circular lagoon located at more than 3,000 m above sea level, and at the origin of the myth of El Dorado. The origin of its formation is uncertain. The hypothesis of a meteorite falling here is ruled out by scientists, who argue that the crater would have appeared following the dissolution of the saline layers in a deeper geological layer. In any case, the round lagoon is magnificent, especially when the weather is good and it reflects the blue sky like a mirror on top of a mountain of the Andes The legend of El Dorado was born from the ritual of investiture of the new Muisca cacique. His body covered with gold powder, he climbs onto a raft filled with gold statuettes and emeralds, which are then thrown into the lake as an offering to the Gods. It was the lure of this treasure buried at the bottom of the lagoon that drove the conquistadors from the Caribbean coast to the interior of the continent. Numerous adventurers of all the nationalities sacrificed their life to find the offerings muiscas. Many methods were tried, without success, of the diving underwater to the draining of the lake after having cut the mountain. In each attempt, the researchers found just enough gold to perpetuate the legend and continue their wildest attempts. Most of the pieces found are now on display at the Gold Museum in Bogotá.