What if Nicolás Mascardi, the 17th-century Jesuit missionary, could see Mascardi today? Mascardi Lake shimmers before us. It is a place of stunning beauty named in his honor.
Mascardi Lake is located in the lake region of northern Patagonia. It lies within Argentina’s Río Negro Province. Bariloche is nearby. The lake is also within the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Imagine Mascardi Lake formed by glaciers long ago. The lake is V-shaped. It features two arms of roughly equal length and width. The Catedral arm stretches eastward. The Tronador arm extends west. It is named after the volcano on the Chilean border.
Mountains surround Mascardi Lake. They rise steeply to over 1,800 meters. Snow caps these peaks for much of the year. Timberline sits above 1,600 meters. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 218 meters. Its surface covers 39.2 square kilometers.
The Manso River feeds Mascardi Lake. It flows from a small lake. That lake is fed by the Ventisquero Negro glacier. This “black snowfield” lies on Tronador Mountain’s slopes. The Manso exits the lake’s southwest corner. It flows through “Los Rapidos.” This turbulent passage leads to Las Moscas Lake.
Mascardi Lake sits close to Gutiérrez Lake. A gravel plain separates them. This plain marks the continental divide. Mascardi Lake drains into the Pacific. Gutiérrez Lake drains into the Atlantic.
National Route 40, a paved highway, runs along the lake’s eastern arm. It leads to Villa Mascardi on the southern shore. Route 82, unpaved in 2018, traces the western arm northward. It continues towards Ventisquero Negro.
Today, Mascardi Lake is a hub for recreation. Kayaking and fishing are popular activities. Tourist agencies in Bariloche offer guided tours. Anglers seek rainbow, brown, and brook trout. These species are not native to Argentina. Campgrounds and lodging dot the roads around the lake. On the Catedral arm’s northern edge, a Mapuche community owns a campground. They have occupied this area since the 17th century.
Hikers can explore the Huella Andina trail. This long-distance path leads 19.5 kilometers south to Lake Steffen. The trail is moderately difficult.
Mascardi Lake offers not only stunning scenery but also a chance to connect with Patagonia’s history and natural wonders. It is a place where adventure and tranquility meet. A lasting memory for any traveler.