Several years ago, I started a job that required me to spend the first two months in a small town near Volcan Arenal. It was November, and the days were misty and cloud-covered. Outside of the town, there were intriguing signs pointing to a mysterious lake where there had once been a UFO sighting. The sign read: Cote Lake/Alien Zone.
The lake is known as Lago Cote. Though small, it is the largest freshwater lake in the country. On a morning hike, I followed the signs and walked the roughly 2 kilometers down a gravel road to the lake. Along the way, I passed a farm that appeared to be in use, though the only sign of life was a scruffy dog barking at me from the edge of the road. Otherwise, the area felt desolate, highlighted by a weathered sign advertising a long-abandoned attempt at developing lakefront lots.
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