Lake Arenal
Lake Arenal and the Tempisque Aquifer are vital resources for Costa Rica. The lake lies between Tenorio National Park, to the north, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, to the south. A biological corridor exists between Tenorio and Monteverde as part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Project.
Lake Arenal provides the water for three hydroelectric plants that supply 40% of Costa Rica’s energy needs, After passing through the turbines, the water is then is used to irrigate lowland crops. Protecting the water quality and preserving the forests that remain around the lake are critical. While the environmental laws of Costa Rica are sound, in many cases the resources to enforce them are inadequate. For this reason, the actions of private citizens and non-governmental organizations become all the more important.
Members of Fuentes Verdes, and people interested in environmental issues around Lake Arenal, this is your web site. It is full of useful information about our current activities, as well as archives of white papers, important links to other environmental groups or government entities, maps, press articles and specific things you can do to help. There’s even a blog for members to air your own perspectives about our special environment. We invite your active participation.