{{Short description|Lake in Argentina}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Cholila | image = File:Lake Cholila - panoramio.jpg | caption = Snow-capped Andes peaks overlook Lake Cholila | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Chubut Province, Argentina | coords = {{coord|42|27|36|S|71|40|40|W|type:waterbody_region:US_source:gnis|display=inline,title}} | lake_type = glacial lake | inflow = Tigre River | pushpin_map=Argentina Chubut Province#Argentina | outflow = Carrileufú River, discharge {{convert|19.3|m3|ft3}} per second<ref name=Lakepedia>{{cite web |url=https://www.lakepedia.com/lake/cholila.html |title=Lake Cholila, Argentina |website=lakepedia.com |access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref> | catchment = {{convert|609|km|mi}}<ref name=Lakepedia/> | basin_countries = Argentina | length = {{convert|18|km|mi}} | width = {{convert|1.5|km|mi}} | area = {{convert|17.5|sqkm|acre|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|48.5|m|ft}} | max-depth = {{convert|108|m|ft}} | elevation = {{convert|540|m|ft}} | volume = {{convert|.85|km3|acre.ft}} | residence_time = 0.52 years | shore = | islands = | cities = }}

'''Lake Cholila''' ('''Lago Cholila''') is a lake in Chubut Province, Argentina. It is the uppermost of several large lakes in the country's Futaleufú River system that, via Yelcho Lake and the Yelcho River, flow into the Pacific Ocean in Chile. The lake is of glacial origin and occupies a narrow east to west valley between glaciated peaks of the Andes.

==Description== The Tigre River is born in glaciers at an altitude of about {{convert|1500|m|ft}} along the border with Chile. From its source, it flows eastward about {{convert|30|km|mi}} to enter the upper end of Lake Cholila. The outlet at the lower end of the lake is the Carrileufú River (River of Green Waters in the Mapuche language). The highest mountain in Chubut Province is Tres Picos, {{convert|2515|m|ft}}, about {{convert|10|km|mi}} west northwest of Lake Cholila.<ref>"Cuenca del Rio Futaleufu", https://www.mininterior.gov.ar/obras-publicas/pdf/76.pdf, accessed 24 Jan 2018; "Peak Bagger", http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12140, accessed 4 Feb 2018</ref> The Carrileufú River should not be confused with the Carrenleufú or Palena River. Both names derive from the same Mapuche word. Although the lake is not located in a national park, the lake shore is mostly in a natural state. Cattle raising, tourism, and sport fishing are the principal occupations of the sparsely populated region.<ref>"Alphabetic index of Lakes, Shallow Lakes, and Reservoirs," https://web.archive.org/web/20110902222041/http://www.hidricosargentina.gov.ar/EIndice-Cholila.html. accessed 24 Jan 2018</ref>

After leaving Lake Cholila the Carrileufú River is joined by the outflow from Lake Mosquito (Lake Pellegrini) and Lake Lezana and then flows into the upper end of Lake Rivadavia, approximately {{convert|20|km|mi}} river miles and {{convert|10|km|mi}} south of Lake Cholila in a straight line distance.<ref>Google Earth</ref>

==Recreation== Sport fishing is popular in the lake and in the rivers. Trout, not native to South America, are the chief attraction, including brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon. Native species of fish include {{lang|es|trucha criolla}} (''Percichthys trucha'') and ''puyen'' (''Galaxias'').<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110902222041/http://www.hidricosargentina.gov.ar/EIndice-Cholila.html; "Patagonia River Guides" http://www.patagoniariverguides.com/prg-info/rivers/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018074527/http://www.patagoniariverguides.com/prg-info/rivers/ |date=2018-10-18 }}, accessed 24 Jan 2018</ref> Boating is popular on the lake and rafting, kayaking, and canoeing are popular on the Carrileufú River below the lake.

==Butch Cassidy== For several months in 1905, the outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid may have hidden from Pinkerton detectives in a cabin where the Tigre River joins Lake Cholila. The two outlaws owned a ranch near the town of Cholila.<ref>Jameson, W. C. (2012), ''Butch Cassidy: Beyond the Grave,'' Taylor Trade Publishing, p. 97</ref>

==Footnotes== {{reflist}}

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