SPACEPHOTOS

Lakes Musters and Colhue Huapi, Argentina January 1997 The deeper blue waters of Lake Musters and the shallow silt-laden waters of Lake Colhue Huapi can be seen in this view. The lakes are situated on the semi-arid, windswept Patagonian Plateau approximately 75 miles (121 km) west of Argentina’s major oil-producing port city, Comodoro Rivadavia. Just to the south of Lake Musters is the delta of the Senguerr River, which appears as a dark line entering half way down the left side of the view. The river feeds both lakes. The Senguerr River begins its journey from the glacial lakes of La Plata and Fontana in the Andes Mountains. The river flows generally eastward, then circles around the southern end of the San Bernardo Mountains (dark area upper left and center) and flows North-northeastward to form the delta. Water is discharged into the lakes, and thus lake levels vary with the season and annual climate. Lake Musters is drained near lake’s southeastern end by a small stream. The stream flows into western Lake Colhue Huapi. Colhue Huapi is drained near its eastern end by the Chico River. The Chico then flows generally northeastward and empties into the Chubut River. The small city of Sarmiento (barely discernible) is located midway between the two lakes at the northern end of the delta region