# Mar Chiquita Lake > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mar_Chiquita_Lake > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mar_Chiquita_Lake.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Chiquita_Lake > Source revision: 1349564941 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Salt lake located in the northeast of the province of Córdoba, in central Argentina}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Mar Chiquita | image = Laguna Mar Chiquita.jpg | caption = | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = [Córdoba Province](/source/C%C3%B3rdoba_Province%2C_Argentina) / [Santiago del Estero Province](/source/Santiago_del_Estero_Province), Argentina | coords = {{coord|30|30|S|62|40|W|region:AR_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = [endorheic](/source/endorheic) [salt lake](/source/salt_lake) | inflow = [Dulce River](/source/Dulce_River_(Argentina))
[Saladillo River](/source/Saladillo_River) | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Argentina | length = | width = | area = {{convert|2,000|-|6,000|km2|abbr=on}} | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|66|-|69|m|abbr=on}} | islands = Médano Island | cities = | pushpin_map = Argentina | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake in Argentina. | pushpin_map_caption = | website = | reference = | embedded = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Bañados del Río Dulce y Laguna de Mar Chiquita | designation1_date = 28 May 2002 | designation1_number = 1176{{Cite web|title=Bañados del Río Dulce y Laguna de Mar Chiquita|website=[Ramsar](/source/Ramsar_Convention) Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1176|accessdate=25 April 2018}}}} }} [[File:Miramar playa.JPG|250px|thumb|right|[Miramar, Córdoba](/source/Miramar%2C_C%C3%B3rdoba), the beach in the summer.]] '''Mar Chiquita''' (in [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) literally "Little Sea") or '''Mar de Ansenuza''' is an [endorheic](/source/endorheic) [salt lake](/source/salt_lake_(geography)) located in the northeast of the [province](/source/provinces_of_Argentina) of [Córdoba](/source/C%C3%B3rdoba_Province%2C_Argentina), in central [Argentina](/source/Argentina). The northeast corner of the lake also extends into southeastern [Santiago del Estero Province](/source/Santiago_del_Estero_Province). It is the largest of the naturally occurring saline lakes in Argentina. The lake is located in parts of five [departments](/source/Departments_of_Argentina) in the two provinces. The lake is in the [Argentine Espinal](/source/Argentine_Espinal) ecoregion.{{citation|title=South America: Central Argentina (NT0801)|publisher=WWF: World Wildlife Fund |last=Dellafiore |first=Claudia |url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0801|accessdate=2017-04-12}} It occupies the southern part of a depression that measures about 50 miles/80 km (north–south) by 28 miles/45 km (east–west). Its surface area varies considerably, given its shallow depth (about 10 m), and ranges between {{convert|2000|and|6000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}. ==Hydrology== Mar Chiquita is fed primarily by the saline waters of the [Dulce River](/source/Dulce_River_(Argentina)), coming from [Santiago del Estero](/source/Santiago_del_Estero_Province) in the north after being joined by the [Saladillo River](/source/Saladillo_River). The lands around the lower course of the Dulce and Mar Chiquita are [wetlands](/source/wetlands), populated by a large [biodiversity](/source/biodiversity) (especially aquatic birds). From the southwest the lake receives the flow of the [Primero/Suquía](/source/Primero_River) and the [Segundo/Xanaes](/source/Segundo_River) rivers, as well as several streams; these inflows vary greatly from dry to rainy seasons. The [salinity](/source/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](/source/Miramar%2C_C%C3%B3rdoba). 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](/source/Salt_pan_(geology)). According to the Mono Lake Committee, [Aves Argentinas](/source/Aves_Argentinas) and [Argentina Natura International](/source/Argentina_Natura_International) are attempting to establish "the largest National Park in Argentina at Laguna Mar Chiquita, the" (northern) "winter home to large concentrations of [Wilson's Phalarope](/source/Wilson's_Phalarope)s."''Mono Lake Newsletter'', Fall 2019, p. 27. The lake was formerly home to a growing tourism industry, and was the site of the [Gran Hotel Viena](/source/Gran_Hotel_Viena), a luxurious, lakefront establishment which functioned from 1945 to 1980, and has been the center of numerous mysteries and controversies.[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=779083 ''La Nación'': Gran Hotel Viena, el gigante rodeado de lujo y de misterio {{in lang|es}}] In June 2022, the surrounding wetlands and the lake were officially designated as Ansenuza National Park, becoming the largest national park in Argentina. The park protects over 19,000 km2 of lagoons, marshes, and forests, and is considered one of the most important wetlands in South America. It is a key breeding ground for three South American flamingo species, as well as a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051212053940/http://lahueya.com.ar/index/argentina/cordoba/hidrog.htm Hydrography of Córdoba] * [http://www.cba.gov.ar/vercanal.jsp?idCanal=2295 Government of Córdoba Province — Water and Sanitation Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520031547/http://www.cba.gov.ar/vercanal.jsp?idCanal=2295 |date=2011-05-20 }} * [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=52143 NASA Earth Observatory — Dust Storm in Argentina] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mar Chiquita (Cordoba)}} Category:Lakes of Argentina Category:Endorheic lakes of South America Category:Saline lakes of South America Category:Landforms of Córdoba Province, Argentina Category:Ramsar sites in Argentina --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mar Chiquita Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Chiquita_Lake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Chiquita_Lake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.