Land of Many Waters?

High on the treeless plateau in tropical central Ecuador, is a series of 45 alpine lakes, with the overall Sangay Park containing a vast system of wetlands with 327 lakes overall along with numberless rivers, waterfalls and streams. The park also contains one of the largest areas of páramo (a montane grassland vegetation) surrounded by the snow-capped Andes Mountains.

On this Mooreland where the climate is cold—very cold in the winter with temperatures below 48ºF—the weather is generally rainy most of the year. Located in the south east edge of the Chimborazo province, in a 12,100-foot-high gorgeous and expansive complex called the Ozogoche Lagoons—the name Ozogoche comes from the Jíbaro language: "ushu" that means “glutton,” and "juchi" which means “to be alone” they certainly are alone, with almost no tourism arriving to interfere with the relaxing quiet of the forest.

The undisturbed Ozogoche Lakes in the high Andes of central Ecuador 

 

This area has a rugged topography with deep, steep-sided valleys, abundant cliffs and many rocky jagged peaks. A number of large rivers, draining eastwards into the Amazon Basin, are characterized by fast and dramatic variations in water level. Run-off is extremely rapid due to high rainfall and steep slopes. Erosion is a constant danger, although controlled by thick forest vegetation. Numerous waterfalls occur, especially in the hanging valleys of the glacial zone along the eastern edge of the Cordillera.

Two of the most prominent, and also the most accessible lakes of the area are the Cubillín Lagoon (12,395), and the Magtayán Lagoon (12,400). There are other minor lagoons such as Boazo, Mangan, Tolicocha, Pugsilococha, Yantapungo, Yanacocha, Patillo, Arrayan, and Verdecocha, the latter being at 13,963 where one can find total peace and enjoy the beauty of the landscape, that is, until the migrating Plover birds arrive, flying down from the Arctic Circle, Alaska and Canada, on their migratory way to nest in Argentina and Chile

These high altitude lakes are presently located within the Sangay National Park in the province of Chimborazo. This 270,000 hectare national park not only contains three volcanoes: including Tungurahua (16,457), Sangay (17,159), which are active, and Altar (17,451), it is also home to diverse ecosystems such as the glacial and volcanic, the cloud forest, the paramos, the rainforest, the grasslands, and the wetlands—the entire park is said to have 300 lakes. It is located 12½ miles south of Guamote and 22 miles east of the village of Palmira.

These Lagunas de Ozogoche are located 90 miles south of the city of Riobamba through waterfalls and virgin forests, and cover about 4½ miles in length. There are astonishing views of a unique part of Ecuador that is still a piece of untouched pristine nature. Out of necessity, natural vegetation has been well conserved and covers around 85% of the entire park. With its different ecosystems, the park has the best and least disturbed assemblage of native species in the region,such as 3,000 species of flowering plants; These  lagoons are the home of several wild animals with 107 mammal, 430 bird, 33 amphibian, 14 reptile and 17 fish species found there. Perhaps the highest profile animal is the endangered Mountain Tapir, for which the Sangay Park represents one of its last refuges. There is also the largest population of Spectacled Bear, as well as Jaguar, Pumas and Giant Anteaters, Other emblematic species include the Andean Condor, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and Lowland Tapir, plus deer, pumas, sheep, ducks, Curiquingues, and Andean birds, among others.

The Sangay volcano (a perfect cone-shaped volcano) at 16,683 feet has a diameter of approximately 4½ miles within its crater. Two rivers, the Sangay and the Volcan run along the north and south providing the view of a giant volcano emerging from the rainforest. This unique mountain view between the highlands and the jungle of a huge mountain peak emerging from the rainforest shows how it was viewed anciently. In the local Shuar (Jíbaro) language, the name comes from “Samkay,” meaning “to scare”

 

As Samuel the Lamanite said: “And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men” (Helaman 14:28, emphasis added). There seems little doubt that the mountains that rose during the crucifixion could be seen all over the Land of Promise—and their rising and existence where no mountains existed before could only have struck many people with fear.

It should also be noted that the Shuar people live on the foothills of the Andes on the east flank, near the Amazonian jungle—however, they could easily see the rising of the mountains and the peaks of the Andes, as site of the Sangay volcano can easily be seen from their habitat.

These lakes of Ozogoche are great examples of Ecuador’s remote and vast natural beauty, being deep, cold, and with a striking dark blue hue. The surrounding land is made up of quishuar trees, pumamaquis, polilepis, chuquirahuas, chilcas and gulags trees. This unique natural habitat in and surrounding the Ozogoche Lakes provide a tranquility and peace seldom experienced elsewhere. With its outstanding natural beauty and active volcanoes, the region illustrates the entire spectrum of ecosystems, ranging from tropical rainforests to glaciers, with striking contrasts between the snowcapped peaks and the forests of the plains. Its isolation has encouraged the survival of indigenous species such as the mountain tapir and the Andean condor.

The natural springs of many lakes and rivers can easily be seen as fountain water moves from the bottom of the lake or river to the top

 

As Mormon described these types of lakes and rivers that exist throughout central and northern Ecuador, he said: “We did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites” (Mormon 6:4, emphasis added).

It should be noted that Ozogoche is formed by natural water springs or fountains in many of the lakes which do not receive their water from any outside source, such as a river or stream, though the area is full of streams and freshwater rivers, mostly fed by the springs of the 45 lakes. Other rivers pass completely through the park, beginning in the high Andes and headed toward the oceans.

The park is also home to Cañari and Puruhá descendants in the Andean region (highlands), and Shuars in the Amazon. Archaeologically, it has been uncovered that Sangay National Park is rich in history. Pre-Columbian ruins can be found in the east. An ancient road system that travels through Achupallas, enters the park, passes Culebrillas lake and then leads to the Ingapirca ruins. 

Covering 667,185 acres, the Ozogoche Lagoons has hundreds of lakes, rivers, waterfalls and streams that give definition to the phrase “Land of Many Waters”—a truism for the entire central and northern part of Ecuador

 

The history of the Ozogoche Lakes and the surrounding region is the history of the Quichua people. These indigenous natives call the Andean highlands home and have done so for more than 1000 years. Although the Quichua were one of the first groups to be conquered by the Inca Empire, their population did not decline until the drastic fall that was catalyzed by the Spanish colonization of Ecuador. Some Quichua escaped from central Ecuador and migrated south down the Andes mountain range, leading to the population of places like the Ozogoche Lakes.

Thus, until about 1100 AD, there were no settlement occupation of this area. Which support the Book of Mormon being silent about any surrounding settlements at Cumorah where Mormon thought the Nephites might have an advantage over the Lamanites. And certainly verifies the statements by Moroni of the civil war that followed Cumorah that went on for at least 36 years “with no end in sight.”