Mar Chiquita Lake (Córdoba)
| Mar Chiquita | |
|---|---|
| Location | Córdoba Province / Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina |
| Coordinates | 30°30′S 62°40′W / 30.500°S 62.667°W |
| Type | endorheic salt lake |
| Primary inflows | Dulce River Saladillo River |
| Basin countries | Argentina |
| Surface area | 2,000–6,000 km2 (770–2,320 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 66–69 m (217–226 ft) |
| Islands | Médano Island |
| Official name | Bañados del Río Dulce y Laguna de Mar Chiquita |
| Designated | 28 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1176 |
Mar Chiquita (in Spanish literally "Little Sea") or Mar de Ansenuza is an endorheic salt lake located in the northeast of the province of Córdoba, in central Argentina. The northeast corner of the lake also extends into southeastern 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 in the two provinces.
The lake is in the Argentine Espinal ecoregion. 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 2,000 and 6,000 km2 (770 and 2,320 sq mi).