Embalse del Neusa, Reservoir in Tausa, Colombia.
The Neusa Reservoir covers approximately 965 hectares at an elevation of 2,967 meters above sea level, with a total capacity of 101 million cubic meters and a 46.5-meter high gravity dam featuring a 200-meter wide base structure.
Constructed between 1949 and 1952 by the American firm Winston Brothers & Company, the reservoir was originally designed for flood control in the Bogotá savanna, flow regulation during dry seasons, and initially considered for electricity generation before that purpose was later abandoned.
The name 'Neusa' derives from an ancient indigenous legend about a woman who sacrificed her life to protect these natural water resources, giving the site deep cultural significance for local communities and connecting them to their ancestral heritage.
Access to the reservoir is primarily via roads from Zipaquirá toward Tausa or the Zipaquirá-Ubaté route, with the park operating Tuesday through Sunday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, requiring advance reservations for cabin accommodations but allowing walk-in camping.
The reservoir serves as both a crucial water supply source for nearby municipalities like Cogua and Zipaquirá and a recreational destination offering trout fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and ecological trails through Andean forest ecosystems at nearly 3,000 meters altitude.
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