# Tafí del Valle - Dique La Angostura (costa norte) — Tafí del Valle, Argentina

The La Angostura dam, El Mollar lake, is in the centre of the Tafí valley, at almost 2,000 m altitude, between El Mollar and Tafí del Valle. This spot is the west coast of the lake in its northern section: an open grassland that reaches the water, south of the stream mouth, with a dirt track that goes down from the gravel road almost to the shore. It is one of the two most popular areas for riding on the lake; the other is about 900 m south, on the El Mollar side. Kite has been practised on the lake since 2005 and a sign from the Tourism Secretariat presents it as favourable for sailing and windsurf due to its winds.

You ride with the valley thermal, which rises from the plains through the gorge and enters the lake from the east and southeast from midday until mid-afternoon; in the early morning the lake is usually glassy. On this coast the east wind comes in onshore and the southeast cross-onshore from the right, so the wind brings you back to the shore. It is a moderate wind, local riders talk about gusts of around 14 kt, and at this altitude the air is less dense: take a larger size than at sea level. The good months are from September to March; in summer afternoon storms are common. The west wind is offshore on this coast and you cannot go out.

With onshore wind, set up and launch far from the water. The shore has reeds and a strip of low vegetation: north of the launch area there is a wet meadow with the stream mouth and to the south a reed bed, it is better not to launch there. There are fishing boats and rental kayaks on the lake. The dam is within the La Angostura Provincial Reserve: look after the shoreline vegetation. There are no services on the coast; El Mollar, 3 km away, and Tafí del Valle have accommodation, food and petrol.

Photos: "Embalse La Angostura" by Dario Alpern (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Lago La Angostura, Tafí del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina" by Avilaroman (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "DIQUE LA ANGOSTURA - panoramio" by yoryet (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

- **Sports:** Kitesurf, Windsurf, Wingfoil
- **Difficulty:** Intermediate
- **Location:** Tafí del Valle, Argentina (-26.91213, -65.70754)
- **Favourable wind directions (where the wind blows from):** ENE (70°), E (90°), ESE (115°), SE (135°)
- **Wind range (knots):** 10–25
- **Best months:** September, October, November, December, January, February, March

## Wind by month (% of days per strength)

| Month | <7 kn | 7–13 kn | 13–20 kn | 20–35 kn | >35 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 97 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| February | 98 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| March | 95 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| April | 91 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| May | 92 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| June | 92 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 93 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| August | 84 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 78 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| October | 83 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| November | 89 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 97 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Local winds

- **Viento del valle (este)** — E (90°), 10–22 kn. The valley thermal: it rises from the plains through the gorge and enters the lake from the east from midday until mid-afternoon. On this coast it comes in onshore and brings you back to the shore.. With onshore wind, set up and launch well away from the water and do not let yourself fall onto the shore. At almost 2,000 m the air is less dense: take a larger size than at sea level.
- **Sudeste** — SE (135°), 10–22 kn. The same thermal when it enters more from the south: it stays cross-onshore from the right, the most comfortable angle to enter and exit on this coast.. It takes you northwards, towards the meadow and the stream mouth: gain height and return to the launch.
- **Oeste** — W (280°), 10–35 kn. Offshore wind coming down from the hills, especially in winter. On this coast it blows towards the middle of the lake: do not go out.. It takes you away from the coast towards the middle of the lake, with cold water and strong gusts. Do not go out with west wind.

## Zones

- **Launch** — Launch zone
- **La Angostura - north coast** — Navigation zone
- **Parking** — Parking

## Points of interest

- **Launch**: Open grassland facing the water, south of the stream mouth.
- **Parking**: End of the dirt track that comes down from the gravel road. Approximate position, no marked parking.
- **Meadow and stream mouth**: Wet area with reeds north of the launch: do not launch or land here.
- **Reed bed**: Reeds and vegetation on the shore south of the launch.
- **Cocodrilos Camping**: Campsite in El Mollar, about 3 km south along the road (OpenStreetMap).

## Hazards

- Onshore wind: the kite can drag you towards the coast if you launch near the water
- Wet meadow and stream mouth to the north of the launch, reed bed to the south: do not launch or land there
- Altitude of almost 2,000 m: the wind is less powerful, the sun is strong and the water is cold
- Afternoon storms in summer: if the sky builds up over the hills, get out of the water
- West wind: it is offshore and takes you to the middle of the lake
- No services or rescue on the coast: do not ride alone

## Obstacles

- Reeds and low vegetation on the shore
- Fishing boats and kayaks on the lake

## Facilities

- Parking

[See it on Ventus Surf (3D map, zones and live forecast)](https://ventus.surf/spots/tafi-del-valle-dique-la-angostura-costa-norte-8i2Ye5QKFv7F9ilBy4gW?lang=en)