Lake Menéndez
Torrecillas Glacier and Menéndez Lake
Lake Menéndez
Location	Chubut Province, Argentina,
Coordinates	42°41′S 71°50′W / 42.683°S 71.833°W / -42.683; -71.833
Lake type	glacial lake
Primary inflows	Rio Los Alerces, Lake Cisne
Primary outflows	Menéndez River
Catchment area	715 square kilometres (276 sq mi)
Basin countries	Argentina
Max. length	26 kilometres (16 mi)
Max. width	2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi)
Surface area	55.7 km2 (13,800 acres)
Average depth	149.9 metres (492 ft)
Max. depth	287 metres (942 ft)
Water volume	8.31 cubic kilometres (6,740,000 acre⋅ft)
Residence time	2.8 years
Surface elevation	570 metres (1,870 ft)
References	[1]

Lake Menéndez (Lago Menéndez) is a large lake in Chubut Province, Argentina. Lake Menéndez is in the chain of lakes in the Futaleufú River system of Argentina which via Yelcho Lake and the Yelcho River flows into the Pacific Ocean in Chile. Located in the Andes, Lake Menendez is Y-shaped, of glacial origin, and occupies two narrow valleys between glaciated peaks. The lake is in the Los Alerces National Park. There are no roads or other developments near the lake. Travel is by boat or foot. Lake Menéndez is noted for the extensive Alerce (Fitzroya) forests near the tips of its two arms.

Description

Lake Menéndez occupies the deepest lake trough, a narrow fjord-like valley, in Chubut Province. It was formed by the convergence of two glacial tongues.^[2] Near the middle of its 26 kilometres (16 mi) length the lake divides into two arms, running at right angles to each other, one continuing northwest, the other turning southwest. The two arms are separated by Mount Torrecillas which rises to 2,213 metres (7,260 ft)^[3] in elevation. The Torrecillas glacier descends to within a few hundred meters of the lake's shoreline. Flowing into Lake Menéndez are several small streams originating in the snowfields and glaciers along the border with Chile, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) distant.^[4]

A 2,600 year old alerce tree near the shore of Lake Menéndez.

The most extensive forests of rare Alerce trees in Argentina are located at the tips of the two arms of Lake Menéndez.^[5] The largest known Alerce tree in Argentina is on the northwest arm near a boat pier called Puerto Sagrario. It is 57 metres (187 ft) tall, 2.2 metres (7.2 ft) in diameter, and 2,600 years old. Regular tours visit the Alerce forest. Taller and larger Alerce trees are believed to exist on the southwestern arm, but access to that area is restricted.^[6]

A footbridge across the Arrayanes River provides access to Lake Menéndez.

The shores of the lake are also forested by "cipres" (Austrocedrus chilensis) and "coihué" (Nothofagus dombeyi) among other species. The forest is representative of the Valdivian temperate rain forest ecosystem.^[7]

The frog Batrachyla fitzroya is only known from Isla Grande in Lake Menéndez.^[8] It is named after the Fitzroya (alerce) trees that are prominent at the locality.^[9]

The outlet of the lake, called the Menéndez River, flows for only 900 metres (3,000 ft), before joining the Arrayanes River with terminates in Futalaufquen Lake.^[10]

Recreation

Overnight camping and campfires are not allowed near the lake. Access to some shore areas and tributary streams is prohibited. Fishing, especially for brown and rainbow trout, both introduced species, is popular.^[11]

References