Meet the Switzerland of Colombia. Climbing the foothills of the city of Medellin, one arrives at this man made location in roughly two or three hours. The large lagoon that you see above at one point in history did not exist. The Colombian governments in the 1970’s decided to flood the region to create a hydroelectric dam. An entire village was buried in the valley below the hills and now the region provides a significant portion of Colombia’s electricity.
If one looks closely you will see the green foliage on the protruding hills and a small brown section just above the water. The water levels at Guatape are normally much higher much they have started selling much more electricity to nearby countries and that has brought water levels lower than normal. It is a very picturesque and charming place to visit. I call it the Switzerland of Colombia because lakes and surrounding hillsides.
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Such a cool photo! I want to go to Columbia really bad. Seems like so much variety of things to see and do.
Thanks Christy!
Great picture….makes me want to jump in a kayak and explore around all the little islets and coastlines….looks like a relaxing place.
Love this shot Marcello, you have convinced me to put Colombia at the top of my list!
Love the photo! I was just there last fall and loved exploring the lake and seeing Pablo Escobar’s old residences with the private tunnel.
Switzerland makes me remember the Sound of Music. Awesome photo and would definitely enjoy the place! Will be there really soon! Can’t wait!
I echo the previous sentiments. I think you convinced me.
It does look like Switzerland! Great photo by the way. At least here it appears that government intervention paid off in electricity and beauty.
Thanks for the post,
George
More you read more you explore..I haven’t heard about this place and its amazing.
Thanks for sharing
Susan.
It’s incredible to see one location look hauntingly like another. Great shot Marcello thanks for introducing me to Guatape!
My pleasure Charli
Wow, stunning! I really want to see more of Colombia
Awesome physical surroundings … I’m likely South America bound in 2015, so I’ll make the trip out here from Medellin!
That’s an awesome scene and great photo as well. It’s amazing what man can do to the landscape!
Love this photo. The view is just picturesque just like you said! The lake and the hills are a good combination! 🙂
It certainly looks like New Zealand, I wonder where the Hobbits stays there?.. 🙂
What a beautiful place! So picturesque. I wish I was there!
Such a beautiful place! I’m loving all the Latin American posts you have here so far! 🙂
Wow! 😀
though its man made its very beautiful.
I am beyond jealous of you.
And that sucks
that they flooded a whole village… O_o
Stunning views, breathtaking…
But it’s sad to hear they destroyed a village to create a dam. This has been done so many times over and over again in various parts of our World.
But this destruction created a beautiful view!