Ranco Lake, Lake in Ranco Province, Los Ríos Region, Chile.

Ranco Lake is a large body of water in the Los Ríos Region with an irregular shoreline marked by deep inlets on the eastern side and a rounder form to the west. The water is enclosed by forest-covered slopes and surrounding towns dotting its perimeter.

The area was first inhabited by Huilliche communities who depended on fishing and small-scale farming for their livelihoods. European settlement in the late 1800s brought new population patterns and changed how the land around the lake was organized.

The name Ranco comes from Mapudungun Rew-ko, meaning "water with waves." About 30 indigenous communities live along the shores, and Huapi Island is inhabited by a Mapuche community. The town's beaches host an artisanal fair and a food center, and the Nilahue waterfall and La Piedra Mesa are local landmarks.

Several small towns and ports ring the shoreline and are accessible by road, with some offering boat rentals for exploring the water. Higher vantage points along the slopes provide the best views and can usually be reached by car.

The lake contains around 25 islands and small islets, but only four support permanent settlements. These scattered pieces of land serve as nesting sites for water birds and create a distinctive dotted pattern visible from the shores.