Paternoster lakes are usually formed by glacial advances and retreats, with each sequence building a lake basin. The Takesi Trail traces along much of an old Incan Highway. Travelers usually begin in La Paz, Bolivia, and travel by jeep to reach the trailhead near Apachetas Pass (el.4650 m.a.s.l.; 15,300'), at the base of Takesi Peak. The trail then descends steeply into the valley of the Yungas, ending at an altitude of 1,100 m (3,600') in the village of Yanacachi. The 3,500 m drop in the long, 2-day hike was a strain on this hikers legs!


Limnology - The study of inland waters
Photo: 1981