O'Higgins/San MartÃn Lake
The O'Higginssee or San Martínsee (Spanish Lago O'Higgins ( Chile ), Lago Martín ( Argentina ) ) is a glacial lake in the Andes, mainly in Chile and part of Argentina situated, and the deepest of the South American continent.
Location and name
The lake is located in the boundaries of 1902 on the border between Argentina and Chile, and bears two names: While the Chilener call him after Bernardo O'Higgins, his name for the Argentine José de San Martín is dedicated. The lake is divided roughly equally between the two countries.
As regards the origin, it forms together with the two southern glacial lakes Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma a contiguous group on the eastern edge of the Patagonian glaciers; while the two lakes, but are on the Atlantic side of the watershed, the waters of the San Martin Lake to the Pacific Ocean flows.
Depth
The dimensions of the large glacial lakes of South America exceed those of the alpine lakes in Europe by about threefold. According to recent measurements ( 2003), this lake with a maximum depth of 836 m, the deepest in America should be. Thus lies the deepest point of Lake O'Higgins, near the glacier, 586 meters below sea level.
Glaciers and waters
The lake bears the typical shape of the glacier lake and has eight arms. The western end of the rapidly branched lake reaches deep into the Andes. The glaciers flow at several locations in the lake and feed him. The Río Pascua (62 km) leads the water to the well branched Chilean fjords on the Pacific side.
Landscape and Climate
The landscape is rather barren: The west bank presents itself as glaciers, while the eastern side by deciduous trees, such as the Nothofagus pumilio is revived somewhat. The lake is characterized by strong wind currents, the navigation always - have made it difficult - but especially in the past. The lake freezes in the winter not to, but due to the harsh climate, its shores were inhabited until about 1902.