Viedma Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Viedma Lake |
|
|---|---|
from space, October 1994
|
|
 Viedma Lake
Location in Santa Cruz Province
Viedma Lake
Location in Argentina
Viedma Lake
Location in Southern Patagonia
|
|
| Location | Lago Argentino Department, Santa Cruz Province (Argentina) |
| Coordinates | 49°35′S 72°30′W / 49.583°S 72.500°W |
| Type | periglacial lake |
| Native name | Lago Viedma (Spanish) |
| Primary outflows | Santa Cruz River |
| Catchment area | 7,342 km2 (2,835 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Argentina |
| Max. length | 80 km (50 mi) |
| Max. width | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 1,193 km2 (461 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Max. depth | ca. 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Water volume | 119 km3 (29 cu mi) |
| Shore length1 | 291 km (181 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 252 m (827 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Viedma Lake (also known as Spanish: Lago Viedma) is a large, beautiful lake in Argentina. It is located in the Santa Cruz Province in a region called Patagonia. The lake is very close to Argentina's border with Chile.
This lake is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) long. It is shaped like a long, narrow valley. Viedma Lake was formed by melting ice from glaciers. It is the second biggest lake that is completely inside Argentina.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The lake is named after a Spanish explorer named Antonio de Viedma. He was the first European to visit the lake's shores. This happened way back in 1783.
Where is Viedma Lake?
Viedma Lake is surrounded by amazing natural sights. The town of El Chaltén is nearby. You can also see the tall Andes mountains, including peaks like Cerro Torre and Fitz-Roy. These mountains are very popular for hiking and climbing.
How the Lake is Formed
The main source of water for Viedma Lake is the Viedma Glacier. This huge glacier is located at the western end of the lake. The Viedma Glacier is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide where it meets the lake.
The area around the lake looks brown because of the ice. The glaciers have scraped away almost all the plants from the steep valleys.
Water Flow and Connections
Water from Viedma Lake flows into another large lake called Lake Argentino. This happens through a river called La Leona River. From Lake Argentino, the water then flows into the Santa Cruz River. Finally, the Santa Cruz River carries the water all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Border Area
Even though most of Viedma Lake is in Argentina, its western shores touch the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This is a huge area of ice. The exact border between Argentina and Chile in this icy region is still being discussed.
.jpg)
See Also
- Lake San Martín
- Lake Argentino
