San Rafael Lagoon, Lake in Aysén Region, Chile.
San Rafael Lagoon extends across the Pacific coast, featuring floating icebergs from the Northern Patagonian Ice Field at the foot of Mount San Valentín.
The San Rafael Glacier transformed from a land-terminating body in 1675 to a tidewater glacier between 1741 and 1766, marking significant geological changes.
The Chono people navigated these waters in canoes, sustaining their community through marine resources from the lagoon and surrounding channels.
Access to the lagoon requires travel from Santiago to Puerto Montt by air, followed by land or sea transportation through the Aysén Region.
The lagoon receives chunks of ice from nineteen surrounding glaciers, creating continuous natural ice detachments that produce thunderous sounds across the water.
Location: Aysén Region
Elevation above the sea: 1 m
GPS coordinates: -46.66667,-73.93333
Latest update: March 11, 2025 02:25
Patagonia extends across the southern reaches of Chile and Argentina, encompassing a range of natural landscapes from active glaciers to volcanic peaks. The region presents a mixture of ice, stone and water, with national parks protecting thousands of square miles of undeveloped terrain. The land was shaped by glacial processes that left deep valleys, lakes and dramatic mountain formations. The collection includes prominent locations across both countries. In Argentina, Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre rise above the valley of El Chaltén, while Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few ice formations worldwide that continues to advance. Los Alerces National Park protects ancient alerce trees that have stood for millennia. On the Chilean side, the Marble Caves at General Carrera Lake form carved rock structures, Queulat Hanging Glacier feeds waterfalls, and the towers of Torres del Paine define one of South America's most recognizable mountain landscapes. San Rafael Lagoon provides access to tidewater glaciers, while remote protected areas such as Kawésqar National Park and Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park preserve extensive temperate rainforests. Historical sites like Cave of Hands display prehistoric rock art.
Catedral de Mármol
101.2 km
Patagonia National Park
130.5 km
Mount Hudson
116 km
Puerto Río Tranquilo
96.2 km
Laguna San Rafael National Park
43 km
Northern Patagonian Ice Field
49.7 km
Caleta Tortel
130 km
Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez
158.6 km
San Rafael Glacier
8.5 km
Parque Nacional Cerro Castillo
140.5 km
Monte San Valentin
45.7 km
Villa Cerro Castillo
149.4 km
Exploradores Glacier
61.5 km
Nef Glacier
66.3 km
Campamento minero Puerto Cristal
118.4 km
Lago Jeinimeni National Reserve
144.1 km
Lago Cochrane Nature Reserve
127.5 km
Arenales
68.6 km
Faro Cabo Raper
131 km
San Quintín Glacier
17.8 km
Colonia Glacier
75.6 km
Steffen Glacier
93.1 km
Calluqueo Glacier
152.9 km
Mitchell Fjord
150.4 km
Estero Quitralco
102.2 km
Leones Glacier
55.4 km
Grosse Glacier
42.5 km
Glaciar Exploradores
58.8 kmReviews
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