Laguna de Guatavita is a lake located in the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes, about 70 kilometers (43 mi) northeast of Bogotá. It is a popular tourist destination, and it is known for its beauty and its history.

The lake is said to be the site of a Muisca legend about a golden chief. The chief, who was known as El Dorado, would cover himself in gold dust and then dive into the lake. The Muisca believed that this ritual would bring them good luck.

The legend of El Dorado inspired many Spanish conquistadors to search for the lake. In 1537, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada and his men found the lake and attempted to drain it. However, they were unsuccessful.

In the 1960s, the Colombian government built a dam to control the water level of the lake. This made it possible to drain the lake, and archaeologists were able to recover a large amount of gold artifacts.

Today, Laguna de Guatavita is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can take a boat ride on the lake, and they can also visit the museum that houses the gold artifacts that were recovered from the lake.