Yelcho Lake is a large fjord-shaped

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

located in Chilean

Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and g ...

, in southern Palena province of

Los Lagos Region Los Lagos Region ( es, Región de Los Lagos , ''Region of the Lakes'') is one of Chile's 16 regions, which are first order administrative divisions, and comprises four provinces: Chiloé, Llanquihue, Osorno and Palena. The region contains ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

. The lake receives the waters of the Futaleufu River at its southern tip, near the tiny settlement of Puerto Ramirez. The river then flows northward through mountainous and glaciated terrain, until it outflows via the Yelcho River north-west and empties into

Gulf of Corcovado Gulf of Corcovado () is a large body of water separating the Chiloé Island from the mainland of Chile. Geologically, it is a forearc basin that has been carved out by Quaternary glaciers. Most of the islands of Chiloé Archipelago are located ...

, near

Chaitén Chaitén (, ) is a Chilean town, commune and former capital of the Palena Province in Los Lagos Region. The town is north of the mouth of Yelcho River, on the east coast of the Gulf of Corcovado. The town is strategically close to the northern ...

. The lake is a popular destination for fly fishing, and several lodges and hotels operate on its shores. Yelcho Lake is most frequently accessed via the town of Chaitén to the north. Two small commercial airlines operate daily flights from Puerto Montt. Another option is ferry service direct from Puerto Montt, the bimodal ferry service from the town of Hornopiren, or direct from the port of Quellón on the island of Chiloe on the other side of the

. Traffic on the

Carretera Austral The Carretera Austral (CH-7, ''in English: Southern Way'') is the name given to Chile's Route 7. The highway runs south for about from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, passing through rural Patagonia. Carretera Austral provides road access ...

along the western shore of Yelcho Lake was interrupted in December 2017 due to a mudslide in the settlement of Villa Santa Lucía, which killed 22 people. The road reopened in February 2018.https://www.patagoniaradio.cl/2018/02/28/santa-lucia-hoy-se-reabre-carretera-austral/

References

External links

* Lakes of Chile Lakes of Los Lagos Region {{LosLagos-geo-stub