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Lake Enriquillo covers an area of 102 square miles (265 km2) and is the lowest point in the Caribbean falling 129 feet (39 m) below sea level. Its drainage basin includes 10 minor river systems. The rivers that rise in the Neiba Mountains to the north (lower center and lower right of the image) are perennial. Those rivers that rise in the Baoruco Mountains to the south (upper center and upper left of the image) are intermittent. Lake Enriquillo has no outlet. The lake's water level varies because of a combination of storm-driven precipitation events and the region's high evaporation rate. Salinity in the lake can vary between 33 ppt to over 100 ppt. Tremors in the region are common. Just above the right center of the image, the other large salt lake in the rift valley, Etang Saumâtre located in the country of Haiti, is visible. The lake contains 3 islands: Isla Barbarita, Islita, and Isla Cabritos. The last one is the largest of all and contains a National Park famous for its crocodiles and flamingos. When water levels drop as a result of dry spells, the islands are usually linked to each other by sandbars. The region has a hot, semiarid climate with an average annual rainfall of about 24 inches. Plants that thrive in arid places, like the cactus, can be found here. |