At 900 meters above sea level, amid the forested mountains of northern Neuquén, Lago Traful hides one of Argentina’s most unusual underwater landscapes: dozens of Patagonian cypress trees (Austrocedrus chilensis) standing upright beneath the surface, their grey trunks visible down to 25 meters depth.
The explanation lies in geology. An active fault line drives a slow, continuous movement of the lakeside terrain into the lake itself — the mountain, as local guides describe it, “gradually moves into the lake.” The landslide carried the forest that grew on that strip with it, submerging the trees in an upright position. Estimates place between 70 and 90 cypresses standing on the lake floor, some more than 20 meters tall, though wind and erosion gradually topple some of them over time.
What preserved the trunks is the cold. Water temperatures in Lago Traful — ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius — inhibit microbial decomposition, keeping the wood firm decades after the submersion. The visual effect is that of a ghost forest in grey tones set against a turquoise backdrop.
Nahuel Huapi National Park protects the area. Access to the submerged forest is exclusively by boat from Villa Traful’s dock, with authorized guides. Snorkeling excursions — groups of up to 10 people in 7-millimeter wetsuits — last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes and include underwater video documentation for participants. Full equipment dives are also available for certified divers.
Villa Traful is reached via 20 kilometers of gravel road from Provincial Route 65, roughly 80 kilometers from Bariloche. Lago Traful is part of the Seven Lakes system along the Lakes Route. Beyond the submerged forest, the area offers waterfalls, hiking trails, and water clarity so exceptional that even a boat crossing becomes an experience of observing the lake floor.
For divers in Argentina, Lago Traful represents a genuine alternative to marine diving. The experience differs — no saltwater currents or marine organisms — but the combination of exceptional visibility, Andean scenery, and the strangeness of standing trees beneath the water gives it its own place on the map of the country’s notable dive sites.
Sources
- La Mañana Neuquén: Navigating the submerged forest: a paradise under Lago Traful
- Interpatagonia: The mysterious submerged forest - Villa Traful
- FM Creciendo: Diving in the Submerged Forest in Villa Traful (original source offline)
Source: La Mañana Neuquén