Storage Capacity and Infrastructure
Mexico counts with 4,000 dams and other hydraulic infrastructure with a storage capacity of 180 cubic kilometres (43 cu mi), which account for 44% of the annual flow. In the arid regions, dams are mostly used for irrigation. In the humid areas, dams are mostly used for electricity generation. Dams are also considered a means for flood protection in Mexico. Approximately 63 dams have a storage capacity of over 100,000,000 cubic metres (81,000 acre·ft), and account for 95% of Mexico's storage capacity. The largest reservoirs are La Angostura (20,217 km2), Nezahualcóyotl (14,0298 km2), Chicoasén (11,883 km2), and Infiernillo (11,860 km2).
Mexico has approximately 70 lakes with a storage capacity of 14 km3 (3.4 cu mi). The largest lake, the Chapala Lake, has a storage capacity of 8,126 cubic hectometres (1.950 cu mi).
| Main lakes and storage capacity | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake | River basin area | Storage capacity | Federal Entity | ||
| km² | sq mi | hm³ | acre feet | ||
| Chapala | 1,116 | 431 | 8,126 | 6,588,000 | Jalisco and Michoacan |
| Cuitzeo | 306 | 118 | 920 | 750,000 | Michoacan |
| Patzcuaro | 97 | 37 | 550 | 450,000 | Michoacan |
| Yuriria | 80 | 31 | 188 | 152,000 | Guanajuato |
| Catemaco | 75 | 29 | 454 | 368,000 | Veracruz |
| Tequesquitengo | 8 | 3.1 | 16 | 13,000 | Morelos |
| Nabor Carrillo | 10 | 3.9 | 12 | 9,700 | Mexico |
Source: CONAGUA
Read more about this topic: Water Resources Management In Mexico, Water Resource Base
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