South America is house to a number of the most picturesque lakes on the earth. From the crystal-clear waters of Lake Titicaca spanning two international locations to the well-known 5-Coloured Lagoon, the South American continent’s beautiful lakes make for a number of the most lovely landscapes on the continent. Right here, we check out the most important lakes in South America, primarily based on sq. miles. (For sq. kilometers, multiply by 2.59.)
These massive lakes are sprinkled all through the continent, from Venezuela within the north to the southern cone of Argentina and Chile. These are the ten greatest by floor space, although one is trying like a misplaced trigger and can must be changed if issues don’t flip round.
Presidente Ríos Lake – Chile
This Chilean lake equates to 121 sq. miles, so we’re beginning on the smaller finish of the most important lakes. Nonetheless, its dimension isn’t any small feat. It managed to remain hidden for fairly a very long time.
A latest discovery, documented by outsiders in simply 1945, it’s rumored that the native Chono individuals found the lake far earlier and saved it a secret. It’s in the midst of the Taito Peninsula, in a secluded space not served by roads west of Laguna San Rafael nationwide park and mountains. So that you’d must go on some form of expedition hike to achieve this lovely lake. The closest metropolis is Aysen, the place there’s a brand new Explora lodge taking on the previous Valle Chacabuco one and the Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa.
Lake Valencia – Venezuela
Situated in northern Venezuela, this 140-square-mile lake resides within the Aragua valley. There are a number of islands inside it, each inhabited and never.
This lake was allegedly fashioned over 2 million years in the past. Lake Valencia shouldn’t be in nice form, with famous algae from wastewater contaminating it. It’s additionally been utterly dry at sure factors in historical past. So it’s not a lot of a vacationer draw even in tourist-depleted Venezuela.
It has lengthy been a lake in bother: Alexander von Humboldt used it for instance in papers about local weather change brought on by people after a go to manner again in 1800. With Venezuela’s full financial meltdown previously decade and a half, the water high quality has continued to deteriorate.
Lake Argentino – Argentina
The 566 square-mile Lake Argentino is positioned in Patagonia, Argentina not removed from the border with Chile. The most important freshwater lake within the nation, Lago Argentino is inside the Los Glaciares Nationwide Park, a preferred vacationer vacation spot.
The spectacular lake is fed by two main rivers, the Santa Cruz River and the Chico.
This lake is well-known to guests as a part of it’s the setting for one of the vital fashionable locations in Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier. We wrote concerning the space after our Calafate journey tour within the space with Say Hueque Adventures. You can even stroll proper to the lake from the estancia we stayed at exterior of the town: Nibepo Aike.
To offer you a way of how huge this lake is, right here’s how our evaluation of Estancia Cristina describes the journey to get there by boat from Calafate, to the lodge inside Los Glaciares Nationwide Park:
The two.5-hour journey covers 30 miles throughout Lago Argentina and consists of sight-seeing stops on the Upsala Glacier earlier than arriving to the identical small bay the place Joseph Masters hauled his rowboat ashore so a few years in the past.
Basic Carrera Lake – Chile and Argentina
The most important lake in Chile, Basic Carrera Lake, also called Lake Buenos Aires, is shared by the 2 international locations. It’s 710 sq. miles and almost 2,000 ft deep. It’s a glacial lake and is positioned within the Patagonian area, its deep blue waters surrounded by rugged mountains, huge glaciers, and luxurious evergreen forests.
Basic Carrera Lake is understood for its glorious trout fishing, and is a well-liked spot for water sports activities like kayaking, in addition to for tenting and mountaineering alternatives. It’s also an ideal place to identify wildlife, because the lake is house to a wide range of animals, together with guanacos, grey foxes, and Andean condors. In case you are in search of an journey or just wish to loosen up and absorb the fantastic thing about the lake and surrounding panorama, Basic Carrera Lake is a perfect vacation spot.
We don’t function any motels on the banks of the lake, however it is a fashionable waterway for boat excursions touring between Chile and Argentina for the reason that lake spans each international locations. For those who e book a Chile + Argentina Patagonia tour that features transit by water, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll spend a while on Basic Carrera Lake.
Mar Chiquita – Argentina
Translating to “small ocean,” this lake is way from small, however it’s troublesome to outline its floor space as a result of that adjustments so much relying on the season. It could possibly be categorized because the continent’s largest lake throughout the wet season, however then the dimensions drops by two-thirds throughout drought intervals. (There are, confusingly, two lagoons with this identify in Argentina, the opposite smaller one proper by the ocean.)
It’s a Ramsar-recognized wetlands web site and is of worldwide significance for its wetland habitats and a preferred vacationer vacation spot, significantly in summer time, when its seashores and heat, calm waters entice 1000’s of individuals. One of the crucial fashionable spots close to Cordoba, this lake is each lovely and full of life, with meals choices on the weekends, chair leases, and extra.
The lagoon is house to all kinds of fowl species, together with a lot of threatened species, and is a vital stopover web site for migratory birds. The lagoon can also be an essential habitat for fish species and is a well-liked spot for leisure fishing.
It’s a naturally occurring salt lake and a somewhat shallow one. Geologists predict that if it continues to lose quantity by evaporation and diversion of river water for agriculture, it’ll ultimately grow to be a salt flat just like the others present in Argentina and Uyuni, Bolivia.
If staying in Cordoba Metropolis, we suggest the Azul Actual Boutique Resort.
Lake Poopó – Bolivia *
This one wants an asterisk as a result of in the meanwhile the floor space of the water is…zero. We’re holding it on this checklist of the most important lakes in South America as a result of it was at one time and can hopefully come again alive within the close to future.
Situated in The Altiplano Mountains in Bolivia, this previously 1,232 square-mile lake is a conservation web site established by the Ramsar Conference in 2002. This was South America’s second largest lake however the water stage saved dropping till it dried up in 2015, when it was declared useless. This has occurred earlier than and the lake has recovered, however after this a few years, it’s not trying very seemingly within the fashionable age of artificial international warming.
The Bolivian authorities has been working to scale back the impression of the lake’s depletion by creating a brand new program to revive and shield the lake, however progress has been sluggish. Identified to have been a saline lake, its salinity was because of the arid local weather and shallow depth. For now, this one is an ex-lake, however hopefully it received’t go the identical manner because the Aral Sea in Central Asia, the place fishing boats lie within the cracked dust.
O’Higgins/San Martin Lake – Chile and Argentina
The deepest lake in South America has two completely different names: O’Higgins Lake on the Chile Facet and San Martin Lake on the Argentina facet. It has a most depth of two,743 ft (836 meters). It’s one of many largest our bodies of water in Patagonia, with a mixed floor space of 391 sq. miles. By some accounts it’s the fifth-deepest lake on the earth and will be the deepest on the planet that’s fed by glaciers.
Because it shares a border, that is one other lake the place vacationers might probably transfer between the 2 international locations by boat. There are glorious glacier views alongside the best way if on the water, with the Andes Mountain Vary all the time in view. Two glaciers feed into the lake, each a part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Subject. There are only some locations to remain on the shores of the lake however there may be small inhabitants at Villa O’Higgins and some fundamental guesthouses.
Viedma Lake – Argentina
This Patagonian lake is close to the border of Chile, positioned in Argentina. It’s the largest lake in Patagonia and the fourth-largest lake in South America. It’s fed by a number of rivers, together with the Río Chico, the Río Maipo, and the Río Puelo.
It’s also house to a wide range of fish species, together with the South American lake trout, the rainbow trout, and the brown trout.
The lake is a well-liked vacation spot for fishing, boating, and different leisure actions. It’s also a preferred spot for birdwatching, as it’s house to a wide range of migratory and resident species, together with the Andean condor.
You’ll be able to see Viedma Lake from the town of Calafate, the place you fly into in the event you’re visiting Perito Moreno Glacier or heading to El Chalten. On the attractive drive to Explora El Chalten, the lake is usually in view and there are a number of overlook factors from the freeway.
Lake Titicaca – Peru and Bolivia
Among the many largest lakes in South America, Titicaca is likely to be probably the most well-known one. This Andes mountain lake resides on the border of Bolivia and Peru and is 3,235 sq. miles. Practically made up of two lakes, the Lago Grande and Wiñaymarka/Lago Pequeño subbasins are related by the slender Strait of Tiquina.
It’s usually claimed to be the world’s highest navigable lake—commercially navigable that’s—at 12,507 ft (3,812 meters) above sea stage. It’s surrounded by the ruins of the traditional Incan civilization, which might nonetheless be seen within the space. Civilizations have lived by and on Titicaca for not less than 1,000 years. The opposite declare to fame is that that is the most important freshwater lake on the continent.
The lake is house to over 530 aquatic species and is a vital supply of meals and water for the native individuals. It’s also identified for its picturesque magnificence, providing beautiful views of the encircling Andes Mountains, valleys, and plains.
For those who keep in Puno on the Peruvian facet you may go to the Uru individuals who dwell on man-made floating reed islands, a convention that goes again to pre-Colombian occasions. There are additionally a number of small islands which might be pure ones, not constructed from reeds. See our critiques of the most effective motels in Puno linked from that luxurious motels in Peru web page. Or for an much more unique expertise, keep on a non-public island within the lake at Isla Suasi. There are additionally some much less upscale lodging choices on the Bolivian facet of the lake.
(c) Eric Mohl
Merín Lagoon – Uruguay and Brazil
Merín Lagoon is a coastal lagoon positioned on the border between Uruguay and Brazil, close to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a part of the Río de la Plata Estuary, which is the second-largest estuary on the earth. The lagoon is roughly 1,450 sq. miles.
It’s characterised by marshy basins with shallow, brackish water and all kinds of aquatic life, together with shrimp, crabs, and varied varieties of fish. The lagoon is a vital habitat for a lot of species of birds who come for this buffet, together with herons, ibises, and varied species of geese.
The world can also be house to a number of species of mammals, such because the capybara (the world’s largest rodent) and the marsh deer. The lagoon is a well-liked vacation spot for birdwatching, fishing, and recreation.
Lake Maracaibo – Venezuela
by way of Flickr Artistic Commons
The most important one on this checklist, Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela lies at a whopping 5,130 sq. miles. It’s the largest lake in South America and the most important inlet on the earth, positioned within the northwest nook of the nation and is related to the Caribbean Sea by a slender channel.
The lake is legendary for its spectacular lightning storms which have earned it the title of “The Lake of Lightning.” The lake can also be house to all kinds of fish species and is a well-liked fishing vacation spot.
That’s it for our rundown on the most important lakes in South America. For those who’ve visited one, inform us about your expertise within the feedback!
Story by Luxurious Latin America editor Timothy Scott with analysis offered by Alina Leffel. Photographs by the editor besides the place indicated.