Dating of Atlantis based on lake levels on the Altiplano

 

The site of Atlantis at Pampa Aullagas on the Bolivian Altiplano with its outer ring of land and inner ring of water is presently a considerable number of feet above the surrounding land level and also the lake level of nearby Lake Poopo.

    In order for the circular rings of water to function as a harbour with access to the lake, the lake must have been considerably higher and a higher level would also be necessary to feed the perimeter canal and irrigation system which was said to have run around the adjacent level rectangular plain.

    An analysis of core samples taken from the centre of the Salar de Uyuni shows that there are several layers of salt and layers of lacustrine mud, showing that the plain was successively covered by deep lakes alternating with dry spells.

    These lakes were fed by water flowing south via the Desaguadero River from Lake Titicaca in the north and in these periods the precipitation was much greater than today. Atlantis is presumed to have existed in one of the “wet” periods when its canals were fed by the overflowing waters of Lake Titicaca.

    The two most probable dates for the end of Atlantis are (a) 9,600BC which is the date given by Plato or (b) 1200BC if we substitute “months” for “years”.

    Going back in time, we can say with certainty that Atlantis could not have existed in the period 30,000 – 28,000BC because at this time the entire Altiplano was covered by the deep paleolake Minchin.

    Similarly it could not have existed at the time of the next wet spell from 23,000 – 13,000BC because from 16,000 – 13,000BC the Altiplano was covered by paleolake Tauca to a depth of 459ft.

    From 11,000 – 9,500BC Lake Titicaca overflowed again and during this period the central Altiplano was covered by a shallow paleolake “Coipasa”. It seems unlikely that Atlantis would have existed at this time since the paleolake would have inhibited the route of the “perimeter canal”.

    Successive wet and dry periods followed with an extremely dry period from 4,000 – 3,000BC.

However, with the wet period beginning 2500 – 1900 BC, a paleolake formed in the River Desaguadero valley suggesting that at this period the water levels might have been correctly balanced  to feed the canals of Atlantis. It also suggests that Lake Poopo could have formed an almost continuous sea stretching right up to lake Titicaca.

    Following a “short” dry spell of 400 years, the next wet spell was from 1500 – 1200BC and it seems probable that this period marked the end of Atlantis since 1200BC is concurrent with the invasion of Egypt by the “Sea Peoples” which could correspond to the war against Egypt which Plato described.

The Salar de Uyuni located on the Bolivian Altiplano at an elevation of 3653m above sea level, is the world’s largest salt flat. The salar was formerly occupied by a series of large lakes. The youngest was a shallow paleolake “Coipasa”, radiocarbon-dated between 11400BC and 9500BC. The youngest deep paleolake “Tauca” existed 16000BC to 11000BC. Max depth 140 metres (459ft). Older deeper paleolake “Minchin” 30,000 to 28,000BC

30,000 – 28,000BC Lake Minchin or 48,000 to 36,000BC

wet 24,000 – 13,000BC

(16,000 – 11,000 = Lake Tauca)

dry 13,000 – 11,000BC

onset of salt deposits Salar de Uyuni marked demise of paleolake Tauca around 13,000BC indicating that lake Titicaca had dropped below its outlet level, hence, it no longer fed the paleolake.

Wet 11,000 – 9,500BC..Lake Titicaca overflowed again and a paleolake occupied the central Altiplano (paleoake Coipasa)

Dry 9,500 – 8,000BC

Wet 8,000 – 6,500BC

Dry 6,500 – 5,000BC

Wet 5,000 – 4,000BC

Extremely dry 4,000 – 3,000BC

Wet 2,500 – 1,900BC..paleolake in Rio Desaguadero valley ( a few metres above modern level)

Wet 1500 – 1200BC

Wet 800 – 500BC

Wet 200BC – 0

Wet 1500AD – present

Lake Titicaca has been at or near its overflow level since about 1500BC and small lakes (such as modern Lake Poopo) have existed on the central Altiplano during much of this period.