Water originating from mountain snow melt determines seasonal lake levels. Most vegetation is drought or salt tolerant. A limited mountain scrub flora and Patagonian steppe reach the area around the lake. A population of 8,000 Coscoroba coscoroba take refuge while flightless during post-breeding molt. Human activities include ranching, grazing, illegal fishing, and hunting.
Water provides for domestic and irrigation needs.
Ramsar site no. 759. Laguna de los Pozuelos. A permanent lagoon of fluctuating salinity, surrounded by scrubby, semi-arid steppe, extensive marsh and rich grassland. One of the most important sites for waterbirds and Nearctic-breeding shorebirds in the Northern Andean region. Up to 26,000 flamingos use the site and one species nests here.