Viedma Lake

Viedma Lake
Lago Viedma (Spanish)
from space, October 1994
Viedma Lake is located in Santa Cruz Province
Viedma Lake
Viedma Lake
Viedma Lake is located in Argentina
Viedma Lake
Viedma Lake
Viedma Lake is located in Southern Patagonia
Viedma Lake
Viedma Lake
LocationLago Argentino Department, Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)
Coordinates49°35′S 72°30′W / 49.583°S 72.500°W / -49.583; -72.500
Typeperiglacial lake
Primary outflowsSanta Cruz River
Catchment area7,342 km2 (2,835 sq mi)
Basin countriesArgentina
Max. length80 km (50 mi)
Max. width15 km (9.3 mi)
Surface area1,193 km2 (461 sq mi)
Average depth100 m (330 ft)
Max. depthca. 900 m (3,000 ft)
Water volume119 km3 (29 cu mi)
Shore length1291 km (181 mi)
Surface elevation252 m (827 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Viedma Lake (Spanish: Lago Viedma, Spanish pronunciation: [laɣo ˈβjeðma]) is a Patagonian lake in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, situated near its border with Chile. Measuring approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) in length, it is a major elongated trough lake formed from melting glacial ice. Viedma Lake is the second largest perennial lake located entirely within Argentina.[1]

An iceberg floating in Lake Viedma.

The name of the lake comes from the Spanish explorer Antonio de Viedma, who in 1783 reached its shores, being the first European to do so.

The town of El Chaltén and the Andes peaks Cerro Torre and Fitz-Roy lie in the proximity of Lake Viedma.

Lake Viedma is fed primarily by the Viedma Glacier at its western end. The Viedma Glacier measures 3 miles (5 kilometers) wide at its terminus at Lake Viedma. The brown landscape is a result of ice scouring, which left virtually no vegetation on the steep-walled valleys.

Water from lake Viedma flows into Lake Argentino through the La Leona River, and eventually from there into the Atlantic Ocean through the Santa Cruz River.

Although the lake lies in Argentine territory, the western shores of the lake reach the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in an area where the border remains undefined.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Principal Lagos de la Republica Argentina", http://www.ign.gob.ar/NuestrasActividades/Geografia/DatosArgentina/Lagos, accessed 20 Jul 2018. Note that this list does not include an area figure for the large but seasonal Mar Chiquita.