Lake Argentino

Lake Argentino (Lago Argentino) is located in the Santa Cruz Province in Argentine Patagonia. It is the largest freshwater lake in Argentina, covering an area of about 1,415 square kilometers. The lake sits close to the border with Chile and serves as the primary gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.

Lake Argentino is fed by meltwater from massive glaciers originating from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The most famous of these is the Perito Moreno Glacier, which actively calves massive blocks of ice into the lake's waters. Other major glaciers emptying into the lake include the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers.

Yes, Lake Argentino is one of the best places in the world to witness active glacier calving. The Perito Moreno glacier periodically forms an ice dam across a narrow channel of the lake, and when the pressure builds up, the bridge spectacularly collapses into the water. Tourists can take boat tours from the town of El Calafate to view the massive ice walls up close.

Lake Argentino features a striking milky, pale blue or turquoise color. This is caused by "glacial flour"—microscopic rock particles ground down by moving glaciers and suspended in the meltwater. The fine particles scatter sunlight, giving the lake its unique and vibrant appearance.