Ranco Lake

With a surface area of 102,500 acres (41,000 ha), Lake Ranco, which in Mapudungn means "crayfish waters," is surrounded by many islands, the majority of which are home to vacation homes and cabins. Ranco features a coastal road that follows the length of its beach, unlike other lakes in the region, allowing you to go around its whole perimeter. The lake offers a top-notch tourist infrastructure, with sport fishing as its main draw. Huapi Island, a Mapuche reserve, is also located in the middle of the lake, further enhancing the indigenous impact in the region.

This region of the country's cuisine is known for its good food, and it has a wide variety of traditional foods due to the influence of the Mapuche, as well as the Germans who arrived in the country. Typical dishes include the curanto, a soup made with meat, sausages, seafood, and potatoes, chapaleles, which are potatoes and flour cooked in the curanto broth, and milcao, which is also made from potatoes and is one of the most important foods in the area, along with meat and seafood. On the other hand, the German influence has allowed this area to be known for its cakes and pies made from local berries and fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, and myrtle.

The weather here is oceanic and rainy, with a touch of Mediterranean influence; there is abundant and consistent rainfall, even in summer. The average annual temperature is 11° C. We recommend that you dress in rain-appropriate clothing because the weather can change at any time of year. Rural stores are open all day, but close between 13.00 and 15.00. We recommend carrying local currency (Chilean pesos), as debit and credit cards are not accepted in kiosks and rural stores. Do not leave litter in parks or on the streets. It is everyone's responsibility to protect our environment. By following the rules, you can avoid fines.

Location: Ranco Province of Chile

Basin countries: Chile
Surface area: 410 km2 (160 sq mi)
Max. depth: 199 m (653 ft)
Surface elevation: 70 m (230 ft)