CubaPLUS Magazine

In the north of the eastern province of Las Tunas, some 700 km east of Havana, is the beautiful Lago Azul in the rural municipality of Manatí, an aquifer of artificial origin, according to the tradition of the inhabitants of the area, when a group of engineers eagerly searched in that land for deposits of kaolin, which, by the way, is a mineral present in the place. But surprisingly, the excavations began to gush water in torrents, in springs, whose volume was so intense that it flooded the entire investigated area and became a lagoon of blue waters.

Turquoise, a magnificent mirror that today falls in love with its beauty and contrasts with the somewhat steep edges of the land that surrounds it Dense mangrove forests, in ocher and whitish tones, are also part of this habitat, along with other native species of Cuban flora so that luckily the site does not recall a lunar landscape. Cuban species also live there, such as an aquatic mammal whose nickname is manatee, which lent its name to the region. Migratory birds and even families, on the verge of extinction, are admired within the fauna, giving greater importance to the wild environment.

The voices about the qualities of the Blue Lake have been increasing the interest that it arouses and more so when its turquoise waters are attributed healing and rejuvenating properties, since the presence of minerals such as kaolin has been verified. It will be something that science must certify, meanwhile his fame grows beyond the locals. For now, there is a base prepared for camping, plans are being made for hotel construction, and there is a Ranchón or Parador that offers good gastronomy. Yes, with the heat and the tropical blue sky, full of bright colors, that aquifer can be as idyllic and unforgettable as the one that can be visited in temperate climates, near the Alps.

A Caribbean lake, full of life and perennially natural is not something to be underestimated. A very pleasant walk, in the middle of the Cuban countryside, will offer you the beautiful setting of Lago Azul de Manatí.