Village on stilts at risk from sediment build up

(5 Jul 2015) The stilted homes and waterways of Congo Mirador, in western Venezuela, are at risk of disappearing as sedimentation threatens residents' livelihoods.
A build-up of sediment brought into the village by the Catatumbo river has resulted in very low water levels, to such an extent that the community may only survive a couple of years more, according to one local tourist guide.
Local resident Janet Diaz said that the village used to boast the best freshwater fisheries but that two have already dried up and the town is "in danger of extinction".
The low water levels are also causing sewage problems because the village has no main water supply and relies solely on the lagoon and rain.
Congo Mirador sits on the edge of the Maracaibo lake and is recognised as a national heritage site because of a lightening phenomenon that occurs in the area.

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