Lake Potrero de los Funes
Encyclopedia
Lake Potrero de los Funes (Embalse Potrero de los Funes) is a reservoir 18 km (11 mi) northeast of San Luis, Argentina
.
belonging to the prominent Funes family of San Luis, was first dammed in 1860. The original levee
, one of the first of its kind in South America, was destroyed by the torrential flooding common to riverbanks in the Dry Pampas region, and was rebuilt in 1876. The present reservoir, planned for the growing water supply needs of the nearby provincial capital, was inaugurated in 1927.
Populated with carp
and silverside
species, the lake became popular recreational fishing
and camping
grounds in subsequent decades, and the homonymous town, located north of the lake, grew around the resulting tourism industry; the Hotel Potrero de los Funes, a four star, 97 room facility, is the most important of the area's numerous lodges. The surrounding Potrero de los Funes Circuit
, a 6.25 km (3.9 mi) track, was inaugurated in 2008, and hosts local Formula Renault
, TC2000 and FIA GT Championship
s, among others.
San Luis, Argentina
-External links:* * *...
.
Overview
The site, originally located in a corralCorral
Corral is a town, commune and sea port in Los Ríos Region, Chile. It is located south of Corral Bay. Corral is best known for the forts of Corral Bay, a system of defensive batteries and forts made to protect Valdivia during colonial times. Corral was the headquarters of the system...
belonging to the prominent Funes family of San Luis, was first dammed in 1860. The original levee
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
, one of the first of its kind in South America, was destroyed by the torrential flooding common to riverbanks in the Dry Pampas region, and was rebuilt in 1876. The present reservoir, planned for the growing water supply needs of the nearby provincial capital, was inaugurated in 1927.
Populated with carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
and silverside
Silverside (fish)
The Old World silversides are a family, Atherinidae, of fish in the order Atheriniformes. They occur worldwide in tropical and temperate waters...
species, the lake became popular recreational fishing
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....
and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
grounds in subsequent decades, and the homonymous town, located north of the lake, grew around the resulting tourism industry; the Hotel Potrero de los Funes, a four star, 97 room facility, is the most important of the area's numerous lodges. The surrounding Potrero de los Funes Circuit
Potrero de los Funes Circuit
The Lago Potrero de los Funes circuit is a race track originally constructed in 1987, and rebuilt in 2008. It is located from San Luis, capital city of the San Luis Province, Argentina. The circuit is semi-permanent, with a length of...
, a 6.25 km (3.9 mi) track, was inaugurated in 2008, and hosts local Formula Renault
Formula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
, TC2000 and FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
s, among others.