The Nahuel Huapi is a glacial lake which explains why it has such crystal-clear blue waters.

It covers a surface area of 557 sq. meters (1825 ft.) and is 700 meters (2300 ft.) above sea level.

It stands out because of its depth and seven branches: Campanario, de la Tristeza, Blest, Machete, del Rincón, Última Esperanza, and Huemul.

Nahuel Huapi National Park.

It is the first national park established in the Argentine territory. Its origin dates back to 1903, with the donation of land by Francisco Pascasio Moreno.

In 1922 it was declared a National Park of the South and in 1934 the National Congress sanctioned by law the creation of the Nahuel Huapi National Park.

Its greatest efforts are focused on the protection of native species, the conservation of environments and biological invasions.

National parks form a system of protected and guarded areas, along with nature reserves and natural monuments. What protects our park? It is a nature refuge, whose conservation objective is the Andean forests and the steppe.

Its intense blue color, its islands and the surrounding landscape make it one of the most attractive places in Patagonia.

Different beaches are found across its shores, where you can perform a number of activities.

Enjoying the nature.

The rich landscape of the park means that visitors are surprised by such spectacular scenery, one of the attributes of the 7 Wonders. Cerro Tronador, Cerro Catedral and Lake Nahuel Huapi are icons of the park.

Read also: With different beaches and service areas, Lake Gutiérrez is a summer classic in Bariloche.

Car tours, lake walks and adventure tourism are widespread activities in and around Bariloche. Villa La Angostura is another important city within the ecoregion, on the other shore of the lake.

The trails of the Andean Footprint Patagonia in the Lakes Corridor motivate many visitors who discover different paths to live the mountain experience.

Itineraries.

The most popular car rides are Circuito Chico, Cerro Tronador and Cascada de los Alerces, Camino de los Siete Lagos, along different routes that allow you to observe the most intrinsic of the park, its forests, lakes and mountains.

Lake excursions lead to Puerto Blest, Los Cántaros Waterfall, Frías Lake, Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest.

Located 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Bariloche, heading south on National Route 40.

Lake Guillelmo sits near Villa Mascardi, a tourist town not too far away from San Carlos de Bariloche.

The feeling of gratitude is obviously towards mother nature, who has built beauties like this lake and at the same time has endowed us with the ability to recognize and enjoy that beauty.

On the shores of this glacial lake you can camp in the free camping area or in the organized camping Las Carpitas, which is located between Lake Mascardi and Guillelmo and has an entrance through Villa Mascardi, a small farmhouse where there is a pantry. and a ranger station.

Located 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Bariloche, heading south on National Route 40.

Lake Guillelmo Fishing, Camping and a Well-Deserved Rest.

Guillelmo Lake is a lake of glacial origin located in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, in the Bariloche department.

It is located entirely within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, and surrounded by the Andean Patagonian forest, although in part degraded by ancient forest fires. The lake level is artificially raised to increase the gap that separates it from Lake Mascardi, where it drains through a stream in which a dam has been built for hydroelectric use.

Located on the edge of National Route 40, it is near Villa Mascardi, an eminently tourist town, not far from the city of San Carlos de Bariloche, the tourist capital of southern Argentina. However, the degradation of its coasts limits tourism in this lake, which is little visited in general, with the exception of salmonid fishermen.

It is oriented in a north-south direction, which means that the prevailing winds from the west do not affect it too much.

The lake is especially known for being its coasts an obligatory passage for tourists and residents who move to El Bolsón, along Route 40.

Its name pays tribute to Juan José Guillelmo, one of the first Jesuit missionaries who missioned among the indigenous people of the region - Pehuenches and Tehuelches, and probably also Mapuches - in the 17th century.

How to get.

A narrow dirt road starts from this hamlet, which must be traveled for approximately two kilometers to reach the free camping sector. In the Villa Mascardi area there is also a ranger station and directions to the Las Carpitas campsite.

Find crystal-clear water in a lake with a surface that reflects the stunning scenery around it.

To get there you should take National Route 40 to the south, heading toward El Bolsón. After having travelled for 35 kilometers (22 miles), and having passed the Gutiérrez and Mascardi lakes, you turn left at Villa Mascardi, at milestone 2003.

A narrow unpaved road opens up past this town and if you follow it for about 2 kilometers (about a mile), you'll reach the free camping area. In the zone near Villa Mascardi, you'll also find the ranger's office and directions to reach Las Carpitas campsite.

A V-shaped lake that is ideal for fishing and sailing. It is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and has a number of places around it where you can camp or have a picnic.

One of its branches runs north-south (the Catedral branch) while the other runs east-west (the Tronador branch).

The Corazón island is close to the vertex formed by both branches.

The shape of the lake is in L or V, it has two well-pronounced arms, the Cathedral Arm aligned in a North-South direction, and the one oriented in an east-west direction is the Thunderous Arm. It is navigable and is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the province of Río Negro.

To get there you need to follow route 40 to the south, heading to El Bolsón for about 30 kilometers (18.5 miles). To your right you'll see the shore of lake Gutiérrez and then lake Mascardi.

On the north shore of the lake you'll find the Relmu Lafquen camp run by the Wiritray community. Access to this camp is through route 40 south, which runs along the Catedral branch of the lake.

Lake Mascardi beautiful mirror of water about 30 kilometers from Bariloche.

This beautiful mirror of water is about 30 kilometers from Bariloche to the south, along Route 40, it has numerous places to picnic and camp. It can be fished and is navigable.

If you exit route 40 to the right, across the entrance leading to Pampa Linda and Mount Tronador, you'll reach La Querencia campsite, at 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) along Route 81.

If you are on the road heading to Pampa Linda you'll find Los Rápidos campsite on the shore of the Tronador branch.

It is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, close to the city of Bariloche, with a maximum length of 23 km; a maximum width of 4 km, and a maximum depth of 218 meters.

Name's origin.

The name of this lake is a tribute to Friar Nicolás Mascardi, one of the religious who came to the region with the intention of converting the inhabitants of the area to Catholicism.

This Jesuit also tried to discover the mythical city of Los Césares. He traveled the Patagonian region evangelizing and graphically recording what he discovered, until he was killed by indigenous people in 1673.

It is named after a tribute to Friar Nicolás Mascardi, one of the many religious who came to the region with the intention of converting the inhabitants of the area to Catholicism, who was the one who tried to discover the mythical city of Los Césares.

How to get.

You have to take route 40 south, heading towards the city of El Bolsón, and travel about 30 kilometers, on the right hand side you first pass by the side of Lake Gutiérrez and then you see the Mascardi.

Read also: Steffen Lake a paradisiacal place recommended in its passage through Patagonia.

Sport fishing.

Lake Mascardi is navigable, and you can practice sport fishing in its waters. This lake has several bays protected by reed beds that give food and shelter to a good population of salmonids. Among the species that can be fished are Fontinalis, Rainbow and Brown trout.

The Cathedral arm is completely transparent with a large number of accesses: by the western head of the lake towards the so-called Playa Leones, on the way we will cross three streams: the Fresco, the Tunqueco and the Tabuco.