Chungará Lake, High mountain lake in Arica y Parinacota Region, Chile.
Located within Lauca National Park at 4,517 meters elevation, Chungará Lake spans 21.5 square kilometers with a depth of 33 meters.
The lake formed between 8,000 and 17,000 years ago when debris from the collapsed Parinacota volcano dammed the Lauca River.
The name derives from Aymara language, where Chunkha means bearded, connected to tales of a bearded man who affected local communities.
Visitors must fill fuel tanks in Arica as no gas stations exist along the route, and the high altitude requires vehicle preparation.
The lake provides habitats for Chilean flamingos, alpacas, vicuñas, and pumas against a background of snow-covered volcanic peaks.
Location: Arica y Parinacota Region
Elevation above the sea: 4,570 m
GPS coordinates: -18.24250,-69.15250
Latest update: May 27, 2025 10:01
The territories of Chile stretch from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, featuring national parks, historic cities, lakes, and islands. The country has active volcanoes, glaciers, fjords, geysers, ancient forests, and deserts. UNESCO sites include Valparaíso, the Churches of Chiloé, Easter Island with its moai, and the mining towns of Humberstone and Sewell.
Nevado Sajama
32.2 km
Sajama National Park
30.6 km
Lauca National Park
15 km
Parinacota
8.9 km
Guallatiri, Chile
20.9 km
Taapaca
40.2 km
Pomerape
13 km
Acotango
19.1 km
Las Vicuñas National Reserve
43.8 km
Parinacota church
13 km
Chua Chuani
43.3 km
Lauca
35.9 km
Volcán Capurata
22.4 km
Uqi Uqini
15.1 km
Mount Laram Q'awa
24.9 km
Umurata
15.4 km
Tambo de Chungará
5.7 km
Qullqi Warani
21.2 km
Phaq'u Q'awa (Sajama)
18.9 km
Iglesia de San Andrés Apostol de Pachama
44.8 km
Kunturiri
23.8 km
Iglesia de la Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción de Guallatire
28.5 km
Jisk'a Kunturiri
25.9 km
Iglesia de San Ildefonso, Putre
43.3 km
Wila Qullu (Curahuara de Carangas)
16 km
Pumuta
27.5 km
Termes de Jurasi
38.1 km
Pueblo de Parinacota
13 kmReviews
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