Atitlan – judged by Alexander von Humboldt and Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world – Its basin serving as home to two distinct Mayan peoples, earning it the appellation “The Land of the Living Maya” – has just taken a major blow from Tropical Storm Stan and is struggling valiantly to recover. The characteristic resilience of its Mayan population is legend. People are smiling and “picking up the pieces” – they remain one of the Lake’s main attractions. But the social and economic infrastructure was fragile and some areas were hit hard. The rural poor in small villages suffered the worst. With the goal of aiding the considerable numbers of mostly poor who are struggling with personal tragedy and to quickly restore the Lake to it’s world-class tourist status which the population heavily depends upon for sustenance - we are reaching out for help.

Let me provide some insight as to events. To begin, the natural uniqueness of the Lake, which makes it so attractive to tourism, worked against its population in this terrible calamity. Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America. High in Guatemala’s altiplano, the surrounding volcanoes and escarpments shape its basin into the form of a deep bowl. Successive days of non-stop torrential rains turned the gentle streams and rivers that drain from this surrounding high ground into swollen, rushing bodies of water that cascaded violently down the basin’s steep slopes. Meanwhile, the rich retentive volcanic soil on these slopes (the same soil that produces beautiful flowering trees and the some of the world’s best coffee), became soaked with rainwater and, with its increased weight and the force of the rain, it began to slide downward, sometimes in a sudden, almost fluid flow. The net effect was two-fold: water overflowing banks and carving new courses flooded the simple homes of poor people who were barely managing to get along economically before the disaster; mud flows ruined crops and in some cases entombed whole families who lived and worked on or at the base of steep slopes.

This was the worst local catastrophe experienced in the lifetime of anyone living here.

While the sun is shining again, the damage requires a fresh beginning for many families lacking the means of resourcing such a step. The damage also demands the rebuilding of essential public services and important environmental infrastructure to include sewage treatment and other kinds of waste management facilities. This is not to mention the importance of reconstructing, renovating, and refurnishing destroyed and damaged facilities which provide important social services, to include schools and clinics.

We`ve lost family and home but with our commitment to work, smiles, weavings and colors, we are going to rebuild you beloved Atitlàn...Miguel Tzul-Panajachel

We`ve tried to recognize credits when it`s possible to do it but most of the pictures came from volunteers so we don`t have the appropiate information, but if there`s something that belongs to you, please let me know so that if you consent to I will write the credits or just remove the photo if that`s your desire. Anyway Thankyou.