The lake has a surface area of 1,013 square kilometres (391 sq mi), an elevation of 250 metres (820 ft) above mean sea level, and a shoreline length of 525 kilometres (326 mi). Viewed from above, the lake consists of a series of finger-shaped flooded valleys, of which 554 square kilometres (214 sq mi) are in Chile and 459 square kilometres (177 sq mi) in Argentina, although sources differ on the precise split, presumably reflecting water level variability. The lake is the deepest in the Americas with a maximum depth of 836 metres (2,743 ft) near O'Higgins Glacier,[1] and its characteristic milky light-blue color comes from rock flour suspended in its waters. It is mainly fed by the Mayer River and other streams, and its outlet, the Pascua River, discharges water from the lake towards the Pacific Ocean at a rate of 510 cubic metres per second (18,000 cu ft/s). The O'Higgins Glacier flows eastwards towards the lake, as does the Chico Glacier. Both of these glaciers are part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field which extends for approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) in a north–south direction to the west of Lake O'Higgins/San Martín.
Immigrants did not settle in the arid windy area around the lake until the 1910s, when British, Scandinavians and Swiss started raising sheep for wool.
The most common tourist route for visiting the lake is that between El Chaltén in Argentina and Villa O'Higgins in Chile, including a ferry through the lake on the Chilean side.
Being the most irregular of the lakes in the area, consisting of eight well defined arms, the name San Martín is sometimes used to refer only to the Argentine side, and O'Higgins only to the four Chilean arms. Both names come from independence heroes José de San Martín of Argentina and Bernardo O'Higgins of Chile, who fought together for the liberation of Chile, and came to be known as Liberators of America together with other South American figures.
The four Argentine arms of the lake, with an area of 521 km2, are individually named Cancha Rayada, Chacabuco, Maipú and De la Lancha, after battles of General San Martín.
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to O'Higgins-San Martín Lake.
higgins, martín, lake, lake, known, higgins, chile, martín, argentina, located, around, coordinates, patagonia, between, aysén, general, carlos, ibáñez, campo, region, santa, cruz, province, locationo, higgins, commune, capitán, prat, province, aysén, general,. The lake known as O Higgins in Chile and San Martin in Argentina is located around coordinates 48 50 S 72 36 W 48 833 S 72 600 W 48 833 72 600 in Patagonia between the Aysen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo Region and the Santa Cruz Province O Higgins San Martin LakeO Higgins San Martin LakeLocationO Higgins Commune Capitan Prat Province Aysen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo Region Chile Lago Argentino Department Santa Cruz Province ArgentinaCoordinates48 50 S 72 36 W 48 833 S 72 600 W 48 833 72 600Primary inflowsMayer RiverPrimary outflowsPascua RiverCatchment area12 895 km2 4 979 sq mi Basin countriesArgentina ChileSurface area1 013 km2 391 sq mi Average depth68 m 223 ft Max depth836 m 2 743 ft Water volume68 88 km3 16 53 cu mi Shore length1525 km 326 mi Surface elevation252 m 827 ft FrozenneverSections sub basinsCancha Rayada Chacabuco Maipu De la Lancha1 Shore length is not a well defined measure Contents 1 General information 2 Names 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksGeneral information edit nbsp O Higgins San Martin Lake bottom The lake has a surface area of 1 013 square kilometres 391 sq mi an elevation of 250 metres 820 ft above mean sea level and a shoreline length of 525 kilometres 326 mi Viewed from above the lake consists of a series of finger shaped flooded valleys of which 554 square kilometres 214 sq mi are in Chile and 459 square kilometres 177 sq mi in Argentina although sources differ on the precise split presumably reflecting water level variability The lake is the deepest in the Americas with a maximum depth of 836 metres 2 743 ft near O Higgins Glacier 1 and its characteristic milky light blue color comes from rock flour suspended in its waters It is mainly fed by the Mayer River and other streams and its outlet the Pascua River discharges water from the lake towards the Pacific Ocean at a rate of 510 cubic metres per second 18 000 cu ft s The O Higgins Glacier flows eastwards towards the lake as does the Chico Glacier Both of these glaciers are part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field which extends for approximately 350 kilometres 220 mi in a north south direction to the west of Lake O Higgins San Martin Immigrants did not settle in the arid windy area around the lake until the 1910s when British Scandinavians and Swiss started raising sheep for wool The most common tourist route for visiting the lake is that between El Chalten in Argentina and Villa O Higgins in Chile including a ferry through the lake on the Chilean side Water from O Higgins San Martin flows into the Pacific Ocean through the Pascua River Names editBeing the most irregular of the lakes in the area consisting of eight well defined arms the name San Martin is sometimes used to refer only to the Argentine side and O Higgins only to the four Chilean arms Both names come from independence heroes Jose de San Martin of Argentina and Bernardo O Higgins of Chile who fought together for the liberation of Chile and came to be known as Liberators of America together with other South American figures The four Argentine arms of the lake with an area of 521 km2 are individually named Cancha Rayada Chacabuco Maipu and De la Lancha after battles of General San Martin See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to O Higgins San Martin Lake Lake Viedma Lake Argentino List of international lakesReferences edit Mass balance investigations at Glaciar Chico Southern Patagonia Icefield Chile PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2007 08 18 Retrieved 2006 10 16 External links editBorder crossing Chalten to O Higgins Archived 2021 02 20 at the Wayback Machine CECS Depth of Lake O Higgins San Martin permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title O 27Higgins San Martin Lake amp oldid 1223213333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
