Blue water
In the desert.
Departamento General de Irrigación — CC BY 4.0 · Departamento General de Irrigación — CC BY 4.0 · qwesy qwesy — CC BY 3.0 · Departamento General de Irrigación — CC BY 4.0 · Martha E Chaves — CC BY-SA 4.0
El Carrizal is a broad reservoir on the Tunuyán river, fed by Andean glacial rivers, in north-central Mendoza province above the city of Rivadavia. The lake runs about fifteen kilometres long and five wide, covering some 31 square kilometres, ringed by very dry, barren land, so its blue water looks like an oasis. The dam was built to regulate the river and irrigate the arid region, with a small hydroelectric plant since 1971. Two villages stand on its shores, El Carrizal to the west and Villa San Isidro to the east, and the lake has become a spot for Mendoza people to fish, windsurf and sail, with campsites on the banks. From above you see the curved dam wall with its big round spillway. Visiting is free; sunset is loveliest, when the distant mountains colour above the water.
In the desert.
A curved wall.
And fishing.
On the Tunuyán river, north-central Mendoza province, about an hour from Mendoza city
Fishing, windsurfing, sailing and camping on the shores; visiting is free.