By Venessa Deosaran
The picturesque landscape of turquoise water in a lake surrounded by white sand and towering hills is a quintessential scene distinct only to Linden.
The “blue lakes”, as they are known not only to Lindeners but countrywide, have an alluring beauty that draws bus loads of local and international visitors to bask in their aesthetics.
Wilfred Simmons, Vice President of Region Ten Linden Tourism Association and popular tour guide in the mining town, told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that since his arrival in Linden in the early 70s he knew of the lakes. He would take his family out to picnic and relax there, as many persons did back then and are still doing now.
The name “blue lake” was given to them by citizens of Linden who regularly visited the seemingly blue water lakes. These appeared during the era when bauxite mining was at its peak and have existed since. The name stuck, and it is the only one they are known by, as they are yet to be officially named.
Simmons said the ‘Wisroc blue lake’ is the most accessible one because of its proximity. Barely three miles out of Linden, Simmons takes numerous tourists to stare in awe at the blue water. There are actually several other blue lakes in Linden but these are in far-flung areas. Simmons stated he has visited most of them if not all.
“These are mined-out bauxite areas. In mining bauxite there is a layer of sand which has to be removed in order to get the mineral and that takes a lot of digging; that’s why you see hills of scooped out sand surrounding the lakes. These lakes appeared as bauxite mining grew. There are others in East Montgomery, South Arrowcane, Kara Kara, which is in front of Richmond Hill, among others,” Simmons mentioned of other lesser-known places in the town.
Some have argued, and still do, if the water is actually blue; however, Simmons disclosed that an environment specialist reported that the water is actually clear but because of the vegetation at the bottom of the white sand and the reflection of the sun, the water appears blue or turquoise. There were also arguments that chemicals in the water gave it that colour, but Simmons stated that an environmentalist carried out numerous tests and found no chemicals.
“There is also proof of people swimming at these lakes and not having complaints about rashes or any outbreaks. So the water is safe from chemicals. The water isn’t stagnant, for instance at Wisroc, that lake runs into a nearby creek or the lakes are always overflowing due to constant heavy rainfall. They are always clean, the only problem is their depth,” said Simmons.
Simmons divulged the lakes are very deep, about 40 feet at each lake. Over the years, there have been a few casualties at the Wisroc lake. In most of the cases it is the person’s fault, Simmons disclosed, from not being cautious while swimming there.
“Wisroc lake is lengthy, about two to three hundred feet, and the others tend to be spherical with the same distance and very deep. One guy was apparently intoxicated and not being cautious, plunged into the deep end at Wisroc lake and before anyone could get to him he drowned. We had about 4 deaths due to recklessness while swimming,” he noted.
On the matter of making the lakes into resorts, Simmons mentioned that a few years ago, one of the members from the tourism association did try to make the lake at Wisroc into a resort-like venue. He had made it accessible by grading down some parts and creating a beach with benabs, but due to problems relating to a lease to operate there, and lack of finances, he stopped focusing on developing the lake.
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