Laguna San Rafael National Park
| Laguna San Rafael National Park | |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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Northern Patagonian Ice Field
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| Location | Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region, Chile |
| Nearest city | Puerto Chacabuco |
| Coordinates | 46°40′S 73°55′W / 46.667°S 73.917°WCoordinates: 46°40′S 73°55′W / 46.667°S 73.917°W |
| Area | 17,420 km2 (6,726 sq mi) |
| Established | 1959 |
| Governing body | Corporación Nacional Forestal |
Laguna San Rafael National Park (Spanish pronunciation: [laˈɣuna san rafaˈel]) is a park located on the Pacific coast of southern Chile. The park is named for the San Rafael Lagoon formed by the retreat of the San Rafael Glacier. Created in 1959, it covers an area of 17,420 km2 (6,726 sq mi) and includes the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. A fjord more than 16 km (10 mi) long is one of the park's principal attractions.
Non-indigenous people first explored the area of Laguna San Rafael in the year 1675. The glacier of the same name was a land-terminating glacier during that time. It probably reached again the lagoon at some time between 1741 and 1766, and it has been a tidewater glacier since that date.
The park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1979.
The park comprises some of the higher Andes mountains of Patagonia, such as the Monte San Valentín, Cerro Arenales, Cerro Hyades and Cerro Pared Norte.
This park contains a number of rivers. San Tadeo River is located in the Isthmus of Ofqui and flows into San Quintín Bay in the north part of the Gulf of Penas. Also there are various rivers bordering the park, such as the Baker River and the Exploradores River. Témpanos River (not really a river) connects San Rafael Lagoon with the Gulf Elefantes, the southern part of Moraleda Channel.
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