Dickson Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dickson Lake |
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Glaciar Dickson and Cerro Cubo in the background.
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 Dickson Lake
Location in Argentina
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| Location | Santa Cruz Province (ARG) Magallanes Region (CHL) |
| Coordinates | 50°50′S 73°07′W / 50.833°S 73.117°W |
| Primary inflows | Dickson Glacier |
| Primary outflows | Paine River |
| Basin countries | Argentina and Chile |
Dickson Lake is a beautiful lake in southern Patagonia. It's special because it's a glacier lake, meaning it was formed by a glacier. This lake is located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a huge area covered in ice.
Since 1998, Dickson Lake has become an international lake. This means it crosses the border between two countries: Argentina and Chile. This happened because the Dickson Glacier, which feeds the lake, has been melting and shrinking.
Contents
About Dickson Lake
Before 1998, Dickson Lake was entirely in Chile. It was at the northern end of the famous Torres del Paine National Park. But as the Dickson Glacier melted, it joined with another lake that started forming in the 1980s. This new lake was on the Argentine side.
How the Lake Formed
The melting of several glaciers helped create the larger Dickson Lake we see today. These glaciers include Dickson, Cubo (also called Cincuentenario), and Frías (or Grande). The water from these melting glaciers filled the area, connecting the two lakes.
Water Flow
Dickson Lake gets its water from the Dickson Glacier. The water then flows out of the lake through the Paine River. The lake also receives water from the Los Perros River. This river starts from a special lake called a proglacial lake. A proglacial lake forms when a glacier like the Los Perros Glacier melts and retreats.
Where is Dickson Lake?
Dickson Lake is located in a stunning part of South America. It's found in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This is one of the largest ice fields outside of the North and South Poles.
Countries and Regions
On the Argentine side, the lake is part of the Santa Cruz Province. On the Chilean side, it belongs to the Magallanes Region. This makes it a unique natural feature shared by two nations.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Dickson para niños
