Perhaps this body of water whispers stories. Welcome to Mirador de la Laguna. It offers a unique vantage point.
The lake is small. It is located about 12 miles west of Mar del Plata. It sits a mile east of Sierra de los Padres hills. The lake and hills share a name origin. Jesuit Fathers tried to evangelize the region in the 17th century. They were called Padres.
Mirador de la Laguna offers views of a lake that is 2,065 meters long. Its width reaches 1,701 meters. The water is shallow. Aquatic flora thrives. Algae and rushes fill the muddy bottom. One species, myriophyllum aquaticum, is called gambarussa.
Eucalyptus and pine woods surround the area. Aboriginal shrubs also grow here. One example is colletia paradoxa. Locals call it curro. The southernmost population of tala lives here too. Sambucus specimens can also be found.
The area opened to the public in 1946. Sport fishing is popular here. A wharf serves row boats on a small island. A causeway links the island to the land. Watercraft with combustion engines are not allowed.
Laguna de los Padres hosted rowing competitions. These took place during the 1995 Pan American Games. It also held events in the 2006 South American Games.
Near the entrance stands a reconstruction. It represents the Jesuit mission of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. Founded in 1746, it was abandoned five years later. The Leuvuches, a Tehuelche tribe, pressured them. Chief Cangapol led the tribe. Back then, the lake was called Laguna de las Cabrillas. This means lake of the goats.
An old farmhouse sits near the shore. Now a museum, writer José Hernández lived here. He authored the gaucho’s national poem Martin Fierro. He resided here briefly during his childhood. Mirador de la Laguna lets you soak in all of this. Take a deep breath and look around.