Lago Viedma
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Lake Vyedma and where is it?
This is a glacial lake in the province of Santa Cruz in southern Argentina, near the Chilean border. In terms of area (about 1,193 square kilometers), it is the second largest among the lakes that lie entirely within the borders of Argentina, and lies at an altitude of approximately 252 meters above sea level.
Where does the water in the lake come from and where does it go?
The lake is fed by the eponymous Vyedma glacier, whose tongue at the outlet is about 5 km wide. The water flows from the lake through the La Leona River into Lake Argentino, and from there it eventually reaches the Atlantic.
How deep is it?
Very. The maximum depth reaches about 900 meters, while the average is about 100 meters. The lake is about 80 km long, and up to 15 km wide.
What to see nearby?
Nearby is the town of El Chalten and two iconic peaks of the Andes - Cerro Torre and Fitzroy, which are visited by climbers and photographers from all over the world. The banks are bare in places, because the ice scraped off almost all the vegetation.
Where did the name come from?
In honor of the Spaniard Antonio de Viedma, who in 1783 was the first European to reach the shores of the lake. That's how his name stuck.
