Lake Atitlan is in the Highlands of Guatemala.

It was born violently, long ago, probably before the emergence of man here. Scientists still debate the exact nature of its birth, an event which created a nearly circular depression of 11 miles in diameter, 95 square miles of area, and over 1,000 feet deep.   However, the consensus is that Lake Atitlan was formed in an immense volcanic explosion 85,000 years ago. Like Pompeii and Mt. St. Helen, volcanic pressure was released with devastating results.  However the explosion here was much more destructive. The explosion at Mt. St. Helen released 2 cu. kilometers of rock and ash, Pompeii blew out 6 cu. kilometers. Atitlan discharged over 180 cu. kilometers of hot ash and rock.

The steep sides of the crater continues deep underwater. An immense hole was left in the earth's crust, leading to Atitlan being one of the world's deepest lakes.  One of the more interesting effects of the explosion is that deep, large fissures were formed, out of which the water flows. Atitlan is unique in that it is a fresh water lake with no river outlet.

Tens of thousands of years later three volcanoes grew on the southern shore.

85,000 years ago it must have been horrendous. Everything died for thousands of kilometers around. A more dreadful sight is hard to imagine.

It is intriguing to think that out of such horror came the splendor we see today.