Laguna 69, Alpine lake in Huascarán National Park, Peru

Laguna 69 is a small lake of irregular shape in the upper Quebrada Demanda, near Yungay in Áncash, Peru, within Huascarán National Park. Its turquoise water comes from minerals in the glacial melt, and in the thaw season a waterfall drops into it from Nevado Chacraraju. The trail to it starts at the Cebolla Pampa campground and follows the right bank of the stream that drains the lake, passing several cascades.

The lake had no name before Huascarán National Park was created in 1975. To list every lake inside the proposed park, authorities gave number-based names to those without a traditional name, while lakes such as Allicocha, Auquiscocha or Palcacocha kept their Hispanicized Quechua names. Lake 69 records its place in that inventory.

The name comes from the creation of Huascarán National Park in 1975, when authorities listed the park's lakes and gave numbers to those without a traditional name. Lakes such as Allicocha, Auquiscocha and Palcacocha kept their Hispanicized Quechua names; this one became 69.

Reaching the lake requires good physical preparation and several days of acclimatization due to the high elevation. Visitors should bring plenty of water, wear warm clothing, and start early in the day to have enough daylight for the trek.

Water from Chacraraju mountain glaciers feeds this lake, creating a natural reservoir at one of Peru's highest elevations. Daily glacier melt continuously supplies cold water that shapes the lake's intensely colored appearance.