Descubriendo el Embalse de Guatapé

lunes, 3 de mayo de 2021

Peñol Guatapé Reservoir

What is it?

It is a Colombian reservoir located in the east of Antioquia in the municipalities of Guatapé and Peñol that is joined by this large reservoir, which provides 35% of the energy in Colombia, this being a great development in the hydroelectric industry, whose capacity is 1200 cubic meters of water, coming from the Nare and Rionegro rivers, This reservoir not only has the function of generating energy but also regulating the flow of the reservoir, storing water from wet periods to use during periods of drought, in addition to this it is also in charge of supplying drinking water to all towns that are connected to this, The Peñol de Guatapé reservoir is a dam visited by thousands of people, this being a cultural heritage and a very beautiful place for its wonderful view, since in this there is a monolith (a large stone block) that is representative for its colorful landscapes.

Location

Located 62 km from the east of Antioquia, this reservoir being the union of the town of El Peñol and Guatapé, with 2,200 hectares of extension, which forms a landscape with a great variety of emerald green lakes, this can be seen better in the Piedra del Peñol which is a physical characteristic of this reservoir, which has a height of 220 meters with 740 steps, that when you reach the top you will have an incredible view of the reservoir.

Ecotourism

GUATAPICNIC is the best ecological tourism activity in Guatapé, a place where the magic and energy generated in the dam come together to give you a different day surrounded by water, trees, lots of nature and lots of love sharing in a delicious picnic on the dam islands. boat, islands and picnic all in one place.

How it was formed?

Before there was no industrial plenitude of the capital of the department of Medellín. Around 1926 a new strategy was devised to be able to generate energy for the country, a combination between natural and industrialization, such as hydroelectric plants. And in 1978 the flooding of the Guatapé reservoir was carried out with the waters of the Nare River, this by idea of the Public Companies of Medellín (EPM), as expected, not all the population agreed with this decision but no matter how many pretexts would have arisen, the construction of the reservoir that today we know as the Peñol de Guatapé was carried out.

How does it work

Dams, in general, are built in the course of a river, storing water that is then released into narrower flows with high pressure. This is driven towards a turbine connected to an electrical generator (see infographic) transforming part of the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Once the process is finished, the water is returned to the river. This can be seen reflected in the following infographic

Characteristics of a Guatápe Reservoir and Peñol de Guatápe

- The purpose of a reservoir is to regulate river courses, drive hydroelectric power plants, accumulate drinking or irrigation water, that is, to make rational and intensive use of hydraulic resources.

- The bottom and most of its banks are composed of natural soil.

- The soil of the reservoir, and especially the soil near the dam, is subject to strong hydraulic pressures.

- There are different types of reservoirs: storage reservoirs (their main function is to retain water for the regulated use of irrigation, electricity generation, population supply, recreation or navigation, forming large vessels or artificial lagoons), tailings reservoirs (their main function is to retain liquids and some solids produced by mining production, which are stored for decanting).

- The Peñol de Guatápe reservoir is classified as a dendritic reservoir with an axis greater than that of the Nare River, the ecological relationships are closely linked to the main tributary hydrodynamics.

- Some of its limnological characteristics (a branch of ecology that studies continental aquatic systems, including organisms and their interaction with the environment) are:

* The presence of nitrogen in the form of nitrites is an indicator that water quality is being affected to a lesser degree by organic pollution.

- Its characteristic green color is due to the large presence of cyanobacteria which are located at the bottom of this, and which by its large amount prevents this water is not drinkable.

Problems

The Peñol reservoir is one of the most important water sources in the country, which in recent years has presented several problems.
Such as the presence of cyanobacteria in the reservoir, caused by the great contamination by industries and the community, giving the water a strong greenish color; this being a risk to the health of people and the species that live there. This is a great problem due to the high contamination of the basin supplied by the reservoir, connected by several water bodies, harming these and those people who have low resources and do not have drinking water if they do not survive with the collection of contaminated water from the reservoir, presenting diseases by the consumption of is, like.
• Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
• If it has contact with the skin, it can generate allergies, inflammations and eruptions on the mucosa
• If inhaled by motor spray, in the case of boats, it can cause cough, cold or fever.
Another problem that the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir presents is contamination, by solid and liquid waste, in which they have found a great variety of chemical products that are affecting this reservoir, which is a point that connects different dams that are also being affected. due to the lack of responsibility in the care of the individual reservoir and in society

Strategies implemented to improve the quality of the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir.

Companies such as the Epm group seek to "contribute to the care of the hydrographic basins that supply their systems and reservoirs, in their direct operations, in the ecosystems located in the areas of influence of the projects, works and activities of their businesses, and in the relationship with their stakeholders" in accordance with their objective as an entity for the protection and care of the environment, they have proposed the following challenges and campaigns for improvement:

According to the Epm group the protection and care of the hydrographic basins is of vital importance with the environmental services provided by the availability of these water resources, in order to provide sustainability of the fauna and flora of that territory, thus ensuring that this is maintained for a long time and does not represent a threat of contamination for the fauna around it or the human health of the inhabitants near this reservoir.

Conclution

These water reservoirs always have problems in their composition either because of the industry or because of the people who live around this reservoir. The solution we propose is to create an environmental mentality, with recycling campaigns and cans so that the different plastics and disposable materials that people consume and leave thrown away can be deposited. This in order to improve both the quality of the water and the salvation of the surrounding animals. Thus maintaining high the purification of the resource and the life of the beings that depend on these sources.

Gallery

Search sources

https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/nacional/guatape-una-laguna-de-lagrimas/

https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-3987358

https://www.municipiodeguatape.gov.co/publicaciones/145/historia--de-guatape/

https://es.scribd.com/doc/85412692/Caracteristicas-de-los-embalses

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262507466_Caracteristicas_limnologicas_del_embalse_El_Penol-Guatape_Colombia

https://2018.sostenibilidadgrupoepm.com.co/pdf/15.pdf

http://www.cornare.gov.co/SIAR/Plan-de-manejo/DRMI-Embalse-Penol-Guatape/Plan_Manejo_DRMI_Penol_Guatape_y_cuenca_alta_Rio_Guatape.pdf

https://es.slideshare.net/aldars/embalses

https://revistas.udem.edu.co/index.php/ingenierias/article/view/223

https://repository.udem.edu.co/handle/11407/848

https://docplayer.es/79957976-Caracteristicas-limnologicas-del-embalse-el-penol-guatape-colombia.html

https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-807384#:~:text=Gracias%20a%20las%20aguas%20de,principal%20cadena%20h%C3%ADdrica%20del%20pa%C3%ADs.

https://repository.ucatolica.edu.co/bitstream/10983/15482/1/CARACTERIZACI%C3%93N%20HIDROL%C3%93GICA%20DE%20LOS%20EMBALSES%20DESTINADOS%20PARA%20GENERACI%C3%93N%20DE%20ENERG%C3%8DA%20EN%20LA%20REGI%C3%93N%20ANTIOQUIA.pdf

http://aventurecolombia.com/es/destino/guatape-y-el-penol-de-guatape#:~:text=Es%20considerado%20patrimonio%20cultural%20y,los%20escalones%20construidos%20(649).

https://viajandox.com.co/guatape/embalse-penol-guatape-A2866

miércoles, 3 de marzo de 2021

Peñol de Guatapé reservoir

What is it?

Location

How it was formed?

How does it work

Characteristics of a Guatápe Reservoir and Peñol de Guatápe

- The bottom and most of its banks are composed of natural soil.

- The soil of the reservoir, and especially the soil near the dam, is subject to strong hydraulic pressures.

- Some of its limnological characteristics (a branch of ecology that studies continental aquatic systems, including organisms and their interaction with the environment) are:

* The presence of nitrogen in the form of nitrites is an indicator that water quality is being affected to a lesser degree by organic pollution.

- Its characteristic green color is due to the large presence of cyanobacteria which are located at the bottom of this, and which by its large amount prevents this water is not drinkable.

Tourism, ecotourism and sports

The most popular sports are boating and sailing. There is also windsurfing and sport fishing. Likewise, motorcycles, flyboards, hoverboards and other more recreational boats are rented.

Problems

The Peñol reservoir is one of the most important water sources in the country, which in recent years has presented several problems.
Such as the presence of cyanobacteria in the reservoir, caused by the great contamination by industries and the community, giving the water a strong greenish color; this being a risk to the health of people and the species that live there. This is a great problem due to the high contamination of the basin supplied by the reservoir, connected by several water bodies, harming these and those people who have low resources and do not have drinking water if they do not survive with the collection of contaminated water from the reservoir, presenting diseases by the consumption of is, like.
• Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
• If it has contact with the skin, it can generate allergies, inflammations and eruptions on the mucosa
• If inhaled by motor spray, in the case of boats, it can cause cough, cold or fever.
Another problem that the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir presents is contamination, by solid and liquid waste, in which they have found a great variety of chemical products that are affecting this reservoir, which is a point that connects different dams that are also being affected. due to the lack of responsibility in the care of the individual reservoir and in society

Alotropic Impacts on Water Sources

The human being has only been concerned about damaging the environment because of their actions and their consumerist thinking but the reality is that not all things that man does are bad, some of these have also contributed to the improvement and cleaning of natural resources or to improve the purification of the water. As you can see in the following infographic there are both positive and negative impacts.

Strategies implemented to improve the quality of the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir.

Problems in the Guatapé Reservoir

These water reservoirs always have problems in its composition either because of the industry or the people who live around this reservoir. Therefore, several problems arise that can be analyzed through this mentefact.

Humanity's commitment to creation

The environment suffers more and more from our individualistic, conscientious and selfish attitude towards our surroundings. Our lack of respect for nature and the extreme abuse of resources that has led to increased pollution is unacceptable. Religion also influences this aspect since God saw us with the capacity and responsibility to take care of the world but we don't really take that task but we only think about our needs without paying attention to the rest. This can be reflected in this essay:

Taking into account that in our daily life there have been several social and environmental issues, such as anthropological problems in the environment caused by the logic of domination and excessive exploitation of human beings, as a result of the lack of organization in society, originating disputes against each other to obtain power, leaving solidarity aside in order to possess a total domain, killing natural resources, using them as an instrument of unstoppable consumption; although human consciousness towards the environment has grown this will not be enough, the permanent desire for power makes this is disturbed, thus affecting the creation that God gave us and responsible for its conservation.

Thus, religion invites us to recover the sense of our dignity, in addition to the bases of ethics and justice, these values will be the source of our lifestyle, and this can only be transformed if we have an absolute humanization, since we as inhabitants of the ecosystem must be aware of the environment that surrounds us which gives us the ability to subsist our basic needs. Implementing strategies for improvement and action comes from thinking about the world we hope to leave to future generations, our environmental awareness and life in society must be transformed from education and acquired knowledge, since this will allow us to contribute ideas to build a better life in society

Therefore, all of humanity must receive God's invitation and call to appreciate more deeply what we have, respecting and caring for our fellow human beings and nature. Human beings must leave aside that individualistic, consumerist and productivist vision that only generates problems to the surroundings and the environment, therefore, all of us in community must have the commitment to take care of God's creation and understand that if he allowed us to live in it was because he saw us with the total responsibility to take care of everything in solidarity. Finally, we must become aware that we can change the ideologies focused on the extraction and trade of natural resources that degrade the environment; and dedicate ourselves to the search for accessible alternatives to the environment.

Having said all this, it can be concluded that human beings are an important factor in nature because they can create different strategies to improve their environment and this is reflected in the Peñol Guatape reservoir. Thanks to technology it is possible to create energy from water, this has allowed us to appreciate our water sources more and above all to preserve the environment with more solidarity.

Poll

Thus, we were able to conclude that the stated objective was fulfilled, which was to inform, train and analyze the different functions and problems in the Peñol de Guatapé reservoir. Thanks to this study, we were able to appreciate that the respondents proposed various alternatives, thus achieving a more in-depth understanding of the real situation of these water sources and how these conditions harm not only the population that lives around them but also the entire country. Also in order to broaden their thinking and motivate them to implement recycling as an ecological alternative seeking to improve the quality of the reservoir and the care of these water resources. This can be seen reflected in a survey that was carried out to 142 people to ask them how much they know about this reservoir and its functions.

To see the survey with greater precision, we leave you a document here

Video

we finally finished with a video that represents the most important of the guatape reservoir and what its importance in our country. This video is here