[1] The existence of the lake was inferred on the basis of limnic sediments in the area, which lies in the Tarapacá Region of Chile.
[2] Presently, the area is occupied by a basin at about 3,950 metres (12,960 ft) altitude within the Western Cordillera and surrounded by high mountains, such as Cerro Porquesa and Sillajhuay.
[3] The lake has been reconstructed on the basis of data obtained by analyzing its sediments[3] and the biological traits of diatoms found therein.
[7] Radiocarbon dating shows that shallowing occurred in the middle Holocene between 4,700 - 3,700 BP, coinciding with the mid-Holocene lowstand of Lake Titicaca.
Among the most common taxa found in lake deposits are Achnanthes lanceolata, Fragilaria capucina and Naviculadicta chilensis.