Lake Novillo, Lake in Sonora, Mexico
Lake Novillo is a large artificial water body in Sonora created by damming the Yaqui River. The reservoir holds approximately 2.9 billion cubic meters of water and serves primarily for irrigation and electricity generation.
The dam was completed in 1964 and inundated the Yaqui River valley. Three Jesuit missions, including San Francisco Javier de Batuc and Santa Maria de Tepupa, were submerged, along with the towns surrounding them, erasing centuries of local heritage beneath the water.
The reservoir plays a central role in the daily life and agricultural practices of local communities. Fishing and farming depend on its water, making it integral to how people in this region sustain themselves.
The area around the lake is open with basic roads leading close to the water and simple facilities such as parking and boat docks. The region remains underdeveloped, making it easy to find quiet spots for visits.
The lake is officially named Presa Plutarco Elias Calles after a former Mexican president. Beneath its surface lie the submerged remains of three Jesuit missions and entire communities that once flourished along its banks before 1964.
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