Cueva de la Leona, Archaeological cave in Laguna Blanca, Chile

Cueva de la Leona is a volcanic-sedimentary tuff cave on the eastern shore of Laguna Blanca, 12 km from Route 9 in the Laguna Blanca commune, Magallanes Region. It comprises five rock shelters along a cliff wall, with a freshwater stream emerging in the valley and flowing into the lagoon. The walls bear black and red rock paintings of anthropomorphic figures, geometric motifs, and an ostrich track.

The site was first systematically studied in the 1930s, revealing evidence of human occupation spanning thousands of years. Archaeological findings show that this location was used as a shelter by people living in the region over an extended period.

The black paintings on the cave walls depict animals and geometric shapes that reveal how ancient people saw and represented their surroundings. These images show the artistic traditions of those who lived in this region long ago.

The site lies on the eastern shore of Laguna Blanca, in the Laguna Blanca commune of Magallanes Region, about 12 km from Route 9. Access is overland from that road; the terrain is open Patagonian steppe with strong wind and sudden weather changes. A sign marking the site was installed in 2015.

The site actually comprises multiple separate rock shelters rather than a single cave chamber, each formed by natural geological processes. This arrangement of interconnected spaces allowed ancient occupants to carry out different activities in distinct areas.