The Lake Below the Sea

Polly flies over the mountains. Then she sees water. A big pale lake lies in a dry valley. Cactus grows next to it.

This is Lago Enriquillo. It is the biggest lake in the Caribbean. It is lower than the sea. Rivers run into the lake, but nothing runs out. The sun takes the water away. The salt stays. So the lake is very salty.

Long ago this valley was part of the sea. In the dry rocks near the water there is old coral. There are shells too, far from any beach.

Polly walks by the water. Then something moves in the lake. It is very long. It is not a bird.