Buenos Aires Southern Waters

It is called Buenos Aires but it could not be more different from the capital of the country. It is a classic Patagonian lake, with the charm of its generous waters when it comes to fishing and winds, which make it rough or calm, depending on the day.

From our cabin, we could enjoy a wonderful view of the contour of Lake Buenos Aires on a splendid windless sunny morning. After a short visit to the town, we headed for the lake shore and saw that the anglers started to arrive in the company of their families.

On the coast, we could observe several watercrafts which we approached to ask the people around about some of the features of the lake. We learned that it has an area of 2,240 square kilometers distributed into Argentinian and Chilean territory and that its waters usually feature a turquoise hue.

American Sub-Champion

After Lake Titicaca, shared by Peru and Bolivia, Lake Buenos Aires is the second largest lake in South America. Lake General Carreras is deeper in Chile than it is in Argentina and it features steep cliffs in some areas.

On the Argentinian side, it occupies an area of 881 square kilometers and is considered a lake in the plain. Its shores are cut out sharply on the east. It is appreciated by the presence of excellent brown and rainbow trout weighing over 5 or 6 kilos. Anglers who love spinning make the most of the season. Angling is practiced year round but catch and release is mandatory in the close season.

The winds have a significant role in the lake. Sometimes the beaches are calm but waves appear in the center of the lake. That is why it is important to know about its behavior.

Luckily for us, we could sail its waters thanks to a friend that led us along the shore on his RIB. First we went along the urban area coastline and then we continued towards the border, which spans from the mouth of the Jeinimeni River to the opposite shore at Ingeniero Pallavicini.

For a while, we had head wind and the boat bumped against the water vigorously. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains framed the lake and on our way back, we spotted some black-necked swans and ducks at the mouth of Los Antiguos River. As we sailed, we could take infinite photographs of such an unbelievable outing.

We all went back to the beach, sunbathed and shared some mate with biscuits. Then we said good-bye to our friends and thanked them for the navigation.

As the night fell, watching through the large windows of the cabin, we could prove that Lake Buenos Aires had been covered by a thick dark blanket and seemed to have disappeared, as if by magic.