South America is residence to among the most picturesque lakes on the planet. 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 among the most lovely landscapes on the continent. Right here, we check out the biggest lakes in South America, based mostly 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 largest lakes in South America by floor space, although one is wanting 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 biggest lakes. Nonetheless, its dimension isn’t any small feat. It managed to remain hidden for fairly a very long time.
A current 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 course 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 type of expedition hike to succeed in this lovely lake.
The closest metropolis is Aysen, the place there’s a brand new Explora lodge taking up the previous Valle Chacabuco one and the Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa.
Lake Valencia – Venezuela
Positioned 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 fully dry at sure factors in historical past. So it isn’t a lot of a vacationer draw even in tourist-depleted Venezuela.
It has lengthy been a lake in hassle: Alexander von Humboldt used it for example in papers about local weather change brought on by people after a go to method 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 some of the widespread locations in Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier. Calafate has an airport, so that is certainly one of South America’s hottest personal jet locations if you happen to’d prefer to get right here rapidly from one other location in Patagonia.
We wrote concerning the space after our Calafate journey tour within the space with Say Hueque Adventures. It’s also possible to stroll proper to the lake from the estancia we stayed at exterior of town: Nibepo Aike.
To present you a way of how massive 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 contains 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, often known as Lake Buenos Aires, is shared by the 2 international locations. It’s 710 sq. miles and practically 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 thought for its wonderful trout fishing, and is a well-liked spot for water sports activities like kayaking, in addition to for tenting and climbing alternatives. It’s also an incredible place to identify wildlife, because the lake is residence to a wide range of animals, together with guanacos, grey foxes, and Andean condors. If you’re on the lookout for an journey or just need to loosen up and soak up the great thing about the lake and surrounding panorama, Basic Carrera Lake is a perfect vacation spot.
We don’t function any accommodations on the banks of the lake, however it is a widespread waterway for boat excursions touring between Chile and Argentina for the reason that lake spans each international locations. When you e-book a Chile + Argentina Patagonia tour that features transit by water, there’s a great probability 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 modifications so much relying on the season. It may very well be categorized because the continent’s largest lake through the wet season, however then the scale drops by two-thirds throughout drought durations. (There are, confusingly, two lagoons with this title in Argentina, the opposite smaller one proper by the ocean.)
It’s a Ramsar-recognized wetlands website 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 widespread 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 residence to all kinds of chicken species, together with plenty of threatened species, and is a crucial stopover website for migratory birds. The lagoon can 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 quite shallow one. Geologists predict that if it continues to lose quantity via evaporation and diversion of river water for agriculture, it’ll finally change into a salt flat just like the others present in Argentina and Uyuni, Bolivia.
If staying in Cordoba Metropolis, we suggest the Azul Actual Boutique Lodge.
Lake Poopó – Bolivia *
This one wants an asterisk as a result of in the intervening time the floor space of the water is…zero. We’re maintaining it on this listing of the biggest lakes in South America as a result of it was at one time and can hopefully come again alive within the close to future.
Positioned in The Altiplano Mountains in Bolivia, this previously 1,232 square-mile lake is a conservation website established by the Ramsar Conference in 2002. This was once 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 wanting very probably within the trendy age of synthetic world 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 defend 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 method because the Aral Sea in Central Asia, the place fishing boats lie within the cracked filth.
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 Aspect and San Martin Lake on the Argentina aspect. 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 planet and could be the deepest on the planet that’s fed by glaciers.
Because it shares a border, that is one other lake the place vacationers may probably transfer between the 2 international locations by boat. There are wonderful glacier views alongside the way in which if on the water, with the Andes Mountain Vary at all times in view. Two glaciers feed into the lake, each a part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Discipline. There are just a few 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 residence 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 residence to a wide range of migratory and resident species, together with the Andean condor.
You possibly can see Viedma Lake from town of Calafate, the place you fly into if you happen to’re visiting Perito Moreno Glacier or heading to El Chalten. On the attractive drive to Explora El Chalten, the lake is commonly 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 could be essentially the most well-known one. This Andes mountain lake resides on the border of Bolivia and Peru and is 3,235 sq. miles. Almost made up of two lakes, the Lago Grande and Wiñaymarka/Lago Pequeño subbasins are related by the slim Strait of Tiquina.
It’s typically 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 may nonetheless be seen within the space. Civilizations have lived by and on Titicaca for at the very least 1,000 years. The opposite declare to fame is that that is the biggest freshwater lake on the continent.
The lake is residence to over 530 aquatic species and is a crucial supply of meals and water for the native individuals. It’s also recognized for its picturesque magnificence, providing beautiful views of the encompassing Andes Mountains, valleys, and plains.
When you keep in Puno on the Peruvian aspect you may go to the Uru individuals who stay on man-made floating reed islands, a practice that goes again to pre-Colombian occasions. There are additionally a number of small islands which might be pure ones, not comprised of reeds. See our critiques of the perfect accommodations in Puno linked from that luxurious accommodations in Peru web page. Or for an much more unique expertise, keep on a personal island within the lake at Isla Suasi. There are additionally some much less upscale lodging choices on the Bolivian aspect of the lake.
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 planet. 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 numerous kinds of fish. The lagoon is a crucial habitat for a lot of species of birds who come for this buffet, together with herons, ibises, and numerous species of geese.
The realm can be residence 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
The most important one on this listing, Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela lies at a whopping 5,130 sq. miles. It’s the largest lake in South America and the biggest inlet on the planet, positioned within the northwest nook of the nation and is related to the Caribbean Sea by a slim channel.
The lake is known for its spectacular lightning storms which have earned it the title of “The Lake of Lightning.” The lake can be residence to all kinds of fish species and is a well-liked fishing vacation spot.
For these planning to go to a number of of those unbelievable lakes throughout a single journey, reserving a personal switch via Daytrip is a handy and cozy various to automotive leases or public transport. With dependable, English-speaking native drivers and the choice to cease at scenic or cultural factors alongside the way in which, your switch turns into a part of the journey expertise.
That’s it for our rundown on the biggest lakes in South America. When you’ve visited one, inform us about your expertise within the feedback!
Story by Luxurious Latin America contributing editor Alina Leffel. Images by Timothy Scott besides the place indicated.
