Laguna del Carbón (Spanish for "coal lagoon") is a salt lake in Corpen Aike Department, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. This salt lake is located 54 kilometres (34 miles) from Puerto San Julián, within the Gran Bajo de San Julián (Great San Julián Depression), an endorheic basin situated between the San Julian Bay and the Chico River. At 105 metres (344 ft) below sea level, Laguna del Carbón is the lowest point of Argentina and the Americas, and the seventh-lowest point on Earth.[1]

Laguna del Carbón
Laguna del Carbón is located in Santa Cruz Province
Laguna del Carbón
Laguna del Carbón
Location in Santa Cruz Province and in Argentina
Laguna del Carbón is located in Argentina
Laguna del Carbón
Laguna del Carbón
Laguna del Carbón (Argentina)
LocationCorpen Aike Department, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Coordinates49°34′34″S 68°21′05″W / 49.5762°S 68.3514°W / -49.5762; -68.3514
Lake typeEndorheic salt lake
Primary outflowsTerminal (evaporation)
Basin countriesArgentina
Max. length5 km (3.1 mi)
Max. width2 km (1.2 mi)
Surface area9 km2 (3.5 sq mi)
Surface elevation−105 m (−344 ft)
Map

As in several other locations in Patagonia, dinosaur fossils have been found in the area.[2]

References

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  1. ^ David K. Lynch. "Land Below Sea Level". Geology.com. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  2. ^ Griffin, Miguel; Pastorino, Guido (Mar 2005). "The Genus Trophon Monfort, 1810 (Gastropoda: Muricidae) In The Tertiary Of Patagonia". Journal of Paleontology. 79 (2): 296–311. doi:10.1666/0022-3360(2005)079<0296:tgtmgm>2.0.co;2. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
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