The Andes Mountains forms a heavily glaciated, volcanic spine that rises up between 2,000 to 4,000 m high and forms the natural border between Argentina and Chile. Along the Andes, there are many pristine, glacially-carved lakes that have spectacular turquoise blue waters. Summers are usually very pleasant, but it can get hot in the more arid regions to the east in Argentina. This is especially true in winter, but it can get pretty blustery in the summer too. Patagonia's wind and nasty weather is primarily due to the fact that it extends southward into a very strong atmospheric and oceanic circulation that surrounds the Antarctic continent.
Weather systems come all the way across the southern Pacific Ocean and continually batter Patagonia.
Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires. Lago Sello with young cinder cones in the background. Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires. Dr. Brad Singer at campsite on the Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires. Young cones in background.