Nonstop flight route between El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Lago Argentino Airport (ING), El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,733 miles (or 10,836 kilometers).

A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Lago Argentino Airport and Castle Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.

Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Lago Argentino Airport and Castle Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Lago Argentino Airport (ING):

• Lago Argentino Airport (ING) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Lago Argentino Airport (ING) is Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) ENE of ING.
• The furthest airport from Lago Argentino Airport (ING) is Baikal International Airport (UUD), which is nearly antipodal to Lago Argentino Airport (meaning Lago Argentino Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Baikal International Airport), and is located 12,334 miles (19,850 kilometers) away in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
• Because of Lago Argentino Airport's relatively low elevation of 731 feet, planes can take off or land at Lago Argentino Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
• Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
• With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.
• In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.