O'Higgins/San Martín Lake

O’Higgins/San Martín Lake, straddling Chile and Argentina, is the Americas’ deepest lake (836 meters) and one of Patagonia’s most stunning. Fed by glacial meltwater, its milky turquoise hues shift with mineral-rich sediments. Named for independence heroes (O’Higgins in Chile, San Martín in Argentina), it sits in the remote Southern Ice Field, accessible only by boat or helicopter. Surrounded by jagged Andes peaks, this pristine lake—home to endemic species—epitomizes Patagonia’s untouched wilderness and the challenges of conserving cross-border ecosystems.