| Licancabur Lake | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Licancabur Lake | |
| Location | Licancabur volcano |
| Coordinates | 22°50′2″S 67°53′1″W / 22.83389°S 67.88361°W |
| Lake type | Volcanic crater lake |
| Primary outflows | Seepage and evaporation |
| Catchment area | 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft) |
| Basin countries | Chile |
| Max. width | 85 metres (280 ft) |
| Surface area | 0.007 km2 (0.0027 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 5.2 m (17 ft) |
| Max. depth | 5–6 m (16–20 ft) approx. |
| Surface elevation | 5,900 m (19,400 ft) |
| Frozen | most of the year |
Licancabur Lake is a crater lake in Chile located on the volcano Licancabur (Región de Antofagasta, Province of El Loa). It is close to the city San Pedro de Atacama and also very close to the border of Chile with Bolivia.
The lake is among several high altitude volcanic lakes in the region. Licancabur Lake is located inside the summit crater of Licancabur and was discovered by climbers in 1953, when it was 85 metres (280 ft) long. While the waterbody may have overflowed in the past, presently it is only drained by seepage and evaporation. Lake levels are variable; in 2002 it covered a surface area of 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft).
The lake's waters are clear and slightly saline. Temperature readings recorded at the lake bottom in 2006 suggest it is subject to geothermal heating. The local climate is arid, cold and subject to strong insolation, including strong ultraviolet radiation. This has caused the lake to be compared to the environment of Mars. Despite these conditions, bacteria, archaea, crustaceans and even a midge live in the lake.