Aguas Abiertas San Miguel del Monte

Aguas Abiertas San Miguel del Monte is an open water swimming race held in the freshwater lake of Laguna de Monte at San Miguel del Monte, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Organized by Aguasabiertas, the event offers a choice of three distinct distances over 500 meters, 1,500 meters, and 3,000 meters. The competition begins as the 500-meter sprint division enters the lake first, followed shortly by the starting waves for the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter courses heading out into open water.

Laguna de San Miguel del Monte: a shallow lake on the pampas

Laguna de San Miguel del Monte covers 686 hectares and holds 12.12 million cubic metres of water, with a mean depth of 177 cm and a maximum of 230 cm. The town of Monte stands on the north shore of the lagoon. The lagoon is divided into two sectors, and the smaller one, Boca del Totoral, takes its name from the Totoral stream that flows into its northern part. Its bed is mud and very flat, and the edges have flood-prone areas covered in reed beds, with small banks a few metres high on some shores. The water does not stratify thermally, so apart from brief spells of a few hours its temperature is uniform from the surface to the bottom. Swimming is among the activities practised on the lagoon and its shores, alongside kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking and recreational use as a summer bathing resort.

Laguna de Monte: lake chop and changing water conditions

The entire competition unfolds across the natural freshwater basin. Out on the broad expanse of water, open conditions bring an ever-shifting surface for swimmers finding their stroke away from the shore. In past editions, swimmers experienced pleasant afternoons on the lagoon, yet faced water that proved quite cold alongside winds that stirred up waves across the course. Navigating these ruffled freshwater stretches requires maintaining sight of the buoys while staying composed against the natural breeze.

Avenida Costanera at Bartolomé Mitre: Club Independiente balneario

The competition is based on the lakeside grounds of Club Deportivo Independiente. The club serves as the race headquarters and assembly point right along the waterfront perimeter of San Miguel del Monte. The site provides direct access to a lakeside balneario where swimmers and supporters gather right at the water's edge. In addition to the beachfront balneario, the club grounds offer a dedicated swimming pool, camping space, and designated areas for fishing along the shore.

Club Independiente: lakeside buffet and post-race amenities

To recover after the swim, the venue features an on-site canteen and buffet. Gathering by the buffet gives swimmers and travelling companions a chance to relax and share stories of navigating the freshwater chop.