Lagoa dos Patos (Portuguese pronunciation: [laˈɡo(w).ɐ dus ˈpatus]; English: Ducks' Lagoon) is the second largest lagoon in Latin America and the biggest in Brazil. It is located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. It is 174 miles (280 km) long, has a maximum width of 44 miles (70 km), and a total area of 3,803 sq. mi. (9,850 km). It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbar about 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide. The navigable São Gonçalo Channel, which enters Lagoa dos Patos near the town of Pelotas, connects Lagoa dos Patos to Lagoa Mirim to the south.