Organic remains from elevated shorelines of two closed basins were radiocarbon dated and document lakes substantially larger than today between 19,500 and 15,000 years BP in northern Patagonia (lat. 41??S), but only for the last 4000 years in southern Patagonia (lat. 49??S). Such latitudinal difference in the timing of high lake levels is probably related to differences in past precipitation regimes, previously also suggested from the study of pollen records from these latitudes in Argentina. ?? 1988.