Expedition Mundo Azul:
Laguna de los Condores – The secret lake of the cloud warriors

 

Location: Laguna de los Condores, Cloud forest
In the mountain cliff above the Laguna de los Condores, the pre-Inca culture of the Chachapoyas constructed mausoleums. More than 200 mummies were found in the mausoleums. The lake in the cloudforest is surrounded by ancient ruins.

Altitude: 2,700 m

Year of expedition: 2000

 Participants: Stefan Austermühle, Nina Pardo, Klaus Storch, Hitti Storch, Wolfgang Luck

Goals:

• Photographic documentation of sub aquatic habitats.
• Produce a TV-documentary for German television about Laguna de los Condores, their archeological importance and biology
• Subaquatic archeological survey
• Mapping the lagoon
• Create awareness of the importance of the conservation of aquatic habitats and species and the archeological remains.

Results:
The expedition proved to be successful in managing the very dificult terrain on the way to the lagoon using 47 mules and 26 local guides. With their support for the first time, the subaquatic world of the lake could be explored. The lake’s sediment was mapped but subaquatic arqueological remains could not be confirmed. A documentary for German TV was produced.

Partner organizations:

• National Institute for Culture
• German Society for the Development of Underwater Archeology (DEGUWA)

With the support of:

• The Peruvian tour operator: Explorandes
• The producer of diving equipment: SCUBAPRO
• The producer of compressors: Bauer Kompressoren

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Page author: Stefan Austermühle