Lake Salvajina, Hydroelectric reservoir in Suarez, Colombia

Lake Salvajina is a hydroelectric reservoir on the Cauca River in Colombia that stretches across a wide area. The facility was constructed with a large concrete dam and serves multiple purposes for the region today.

The reservoir was completed in the 1980s and fundamentally changed the landscape and life in the region. The facility was created to generate power and manage river flow.

The dam's construction displaced communities; the NGO PCN cites 3,000 people and biodiversidadla.org more than 6,000, both calling compensation insufficient and the promises of Acta 86 unfulfilled. Lawyer Oscar Elías López, who backed the protests, was shot dead in a Cali café.

The lake is most easily reached from nearby cities and offers several viewing points along the shoreline. Visitors should note that water levels change, which can affect accessibility to certain areas.

The reservoir's outflow is controlled by the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca (CVC), which has priority over other users when releases are disputed. The water is also kept at a low pollution level because the Cauca downstream supplies drinking water to Cali.