Geography: Lakes

Lake Chapala borders the states of Jalisco and Michoacán.

Lake Pátzcuaro does not drain to the sea.

Mexico, a country with a rich tapestry of cultures and diverse landscapes ranging from deserts to rainforests, is home to numerous significant lakes, each with unique ecological and cultural attributes. Among these, Lake Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico, stands out for its importance to local biodiversity and as a vital resource for surrounding communities.

Lake Cuitzeo, once the country's second-largest lake, averaging 410 square kilometers (158 square miles), dried up in 2021. Factors in its demise include the construction of Cointzio Dam in 1941, the building of two highways that divided the lake into three parts, drought, and the dumping into the lake of agricultural and industrial waste. The following table provides an overview of Mexico's major lakes, focusing on key aspects such as the lake's surface area, its elevation above sea level, its primary water source, and the nature of its outflow.

Lake Name	Area	Elevation	Water Source	Outflow
Lake Chapala	1,080 km² (417 mi²)	1,524 m (5,000 ft)	Lerma River	Santiago River
Lake Sayula	168 km² (64 mi²)	1,350 m (4,429 ft)	Rivers and springs; rainfall	Evaporation
Lake Pátzcuaro	129 km² (50 mi²)	2,035 m (6,676 ft)	Area watershed; rainfall	N/A (endorheic)
Lake Catemaco	72 km² (27 mi²)	340 m (1,115 ft)	Grande de Catemaco River; several tributaries; groundwater; rainfall	Grande de Catemaco River; evaporation; ground fissures
Lake El Salto	68 km² (26 mi²)	165 m (541 ft)	Elota River	N/A (artificial)
Lake Bacalar	42 km² (16 mi²)	0 m (0 ft)	Underground rivers	Hondo River
Lake Chichancanab	30 km² (11.5 mi²)	36 m (118 ft)	Rainfall	Evaporation
Lake Xochimilco	26 km² (10 mi²)	2,240 m (7,349 ft)	Lake Huetzalin; rainfall; treated wastewater	N/A (endorheic)
Lake Cajititlán	17 km² (6.5 mi²)	1,550 m (5,085 ft)	Streams; rainfall	N/A (endorheic)
Lake Zirahuén	9.7 km² (3.7 mi²)	2,075 m (6,807 ft)	Balsas River basin	N/A (endorheic)