.gif)
Mar Chiquita (Córdoba)
Encyclopedia
Mar Chiquita or Mar de Ansenuza is an endorheic
salt lake located in the northeast of the province
of Córdoba, in central Argentina
. It is the largest of the naturally occurring saline lakes in Argentina.
The lake occupies the southern part of a depression that measures about 80 km (north–south) by 45 km (east–west). Its surface area varies considerably, given its shallow depth (about 10 m), and ranges between 2000 and 4500 km² (800 and 1800 mi²).
Mar Chiquita is fed primarily by the saline waters of the Dulce River
, coming from Santiago del Estero
in the north after being joined by the Saladillo River
. The lands around the lower course of the Dulce and Mar Chiquita are wetlands, populated by a large biodiversity
(especially aquatic birds). From the southwest the lake receives the flow of the Primero/Suquía
and the Segundo/Xanaes
rivers, as well as several streams; these inflows vary greatly from dry to rainy seasons. The salinity
of Mar Chiquita is quite variable, with measured extremes ranging from 250 g/l in times of low water levels to around 40 g/l in very humid years, such as in the decade following 1977, when record rainfall flooded much of Miramar, Córdoba
.
There are several islands in the lake, the most important one being the Médano Island. Mar Chiquita is slowly diminishing in volume due to increased evaporation and elevation of its bottom, and is ultimately bound to turn into a salt flat. The lake was formerly home to a growing tourism industry, and was the site of the Gran Hotel Vienna, a luxurious, lakefront establishment which functioned from 1945 to 1980, and has been the center of numerous mysteries and controversies.
Endorheic
An endorheic basin is a closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other bodies of water such as rivers or oceans...
salt lake located in the northeast of the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Córdoba, in central Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is the largest of the naturally occurring saline lakes in Argentina.
The lake occupies the southern part of a depression that measures about 80 km (north–south) by 45 km (east–west). Its surface area varies considerably, given its shallow depth (about 10 m), and ranges between 2000 and 4500 km² (800 and 1800 mi²).
Mar Chiquita is fed primarily by the saline waters of the Dulce River
Dulce River (Argentina)
The Dulce River is the most important river in the Argentine province of Santiago del Estero....
, coming from Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero Province
Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. Neighbouring provinces are from the north clockwise Salta, Chaco, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca and Tucumán.-History:...
in the north after being joined by the Saladillo River
Saladillo River
The Saladillo River is a river of Argentina.It was discovered in 1892 by William Bolton.It runs through the Grande Puonchos in southern Argentina.-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.*...
. The lands around the lower course of the Dulce and Mar Chiquita are wetlands, populated by a large biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
(especially aquatic birds). From the southwest the lake receives the flow of the Primero/Suquía
Primero River
The Primero River , also known as Suquía , runs through the city of Córdoba, Argentina....
and the Segundo/Xanaes
Segundo River
The Segundo River ,, also known as Xanaes, is a river in the center-north of the province of Córdoba, Argentina. It is born in the Paravachasca Valley at the confluence of the Los Molinos and Anizacate rivers, on the eastern slopes of the Cumbres de Achala , about 2,000 m above mean sea level...
rivers, as well as several streams; these inflows vary greatly from dry to rainy seasons. The salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
of Mar Chiquita is quite variable, with measured extremes ranging from 250 g/l in times of low water levels to around 40 g/l in very humid years, such as in the decade following 1977, when record rainfall flooded much of Miramar, Córdoba
Miramar, Córdoba
Miramar is a town in San Justo Department, located in Córdoba Province .-Overview:Established on November 18, 1924, with the inauguration by Victorio Rosso of the Hotel Miramar, a health resort, Miramar was the site of a number of mineral spas from its early days, and in 1933, a jitney service was...
.
There are several islands in the lake, the most important one being the Médano Island. Mar Chiquita is slowly diminishing in volume due to increased evaporation and elevation of its bottom, and is ultimately bound to turn into a salt flat. The lake was formerly home to a growing tourism industry, and was the site of the Gran Hotel Vienna, a luxurious, lakefront establishment which functioned from 1945 to 1980, and has been the center of numerous mysteries and controversies.