Scientists' search for extra terrestrial life has taken them to the most unlikely place of Laguna de Diamante in the Andes. This pristine lake, 4,700 meters above sea level, at the foot of a volcano, is one of Mendoza's natural wonders, and now it seems is the perfect spot to look for a super bacteria called extremophites that flourish in its harsh conditions.
Experts believe that if they can exist at the bottom of this "diamond" lake, they also have a chance of surviving on a distant planet. It is for this reason, this season you will see some boffins poking around in this provincial reservation, amongst fly fishers and hardy campers. The lake itself makes for a spectacular (if long) day trip amidst gorgeous Andean scenery and ice capped peaks with herds of guanacos running rampant. The park is only open two months of the year, January and February, because of the adverse weather conditions. The rest of the year it is for extremophites only.
