Argentina’s Patagonia Glaciers

Posted on November 1, 2018

Argentina’s southern Patagonia region is famous for its Los Glaciares National Park with several massive glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Join us as we explore Perito Moreno Glacier and Upsala Glacier.

Southern Argentina has well over 300 glaciers, many of them located in the Los Glaciares National Park. We visited two of the largest glaciers, Perito Moreno and Upsala. What we saw was incredible. What the future holds for these glaciers, we can only imagine.

Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the most impressive and most accessible glaciers in the world.

The glacier covers an area of 250 km² (97 sq mi) of ice formation and is about 30 km (19 mi) in length. The glacier’s terminal is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide, with an average height of 74 m (240 ft) above the surface of Lake Argentino. Its total ice depth at the terminal (front-face) is 170 metres (558 ft).

While most glaciers worldwide are retreating, Perito Moreno is unusual in that it is advancing. Glaciologists claim that it is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are actually growing.

A full day visit allows for views from different vantage points around the terminal of the glacier. The surrounding hills offer spectacular views of the glacier while other glaciers along the lake (e.g. Upsala Glacier) can be visited by catamaran, kayaking, or 4X4 excursions.

Glacier hikes are offered, and as long as you are very careful you won’t die a slow icy death. Join a local glacier-hiking group with a guide, put on your crampons (spiked ice-boots), secure the ropes, and get onto the glacier. An unforgettable hike indeed!

Perito Moreno is located in the Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province. Ice covers over 40% of this national park and the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of 47 glaciers in the area, all of which are fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The total ice-field here holds the world’s third largest reserve of fresh water.

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Globerovers Magazine December 2018