The Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina

The most famous and imposing glaciers of the National Park is the Perito Moreno Glacier, located in the south end, opposite the Magallanes Peninsula, 78 Km. El Calafate. For the spectacular view it offers, the Perito Moreno glacier is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The imposing mass of ice surrounded by endless forests and mountains is a spectacle that few want to miss. In fact, this place is, along with Puerto Madryn (Chubut) and Niagara Falls (Misiones), one of the most visited sites in Argentina.

You can get to the glacier walks on land or alternating stages in the route navigation. If the visitor comes with own vehicle must travel approximately 80 km along Provincial Route 15 from El Calafate, which takes an hour and a half.

The Perito Moreno glacier is one of many that make up the Glaciers National Park. All form the Continental Ice (17,000 kilometers) is one of the largest reserves in the world drinking water. Is that 90% of the world’s freshwater is found in glaciers and areas after Antarctica and Greenland, Argentina continues to this region.

It stretches between the 47th and 51 south latitude, reaches the Chilean fjords and in the east to the Argentine lakes. The Northern Ice Continental is situated entirely in the neighboring Republic of Chile, whereas the Southern Patagonian Ice Field is shared between the two nations.

Here is where all the glaciers of the National Park, among which the glacier Perito Moreno. Tourists can get close to 300 or 400 meters from the glacier tongues or take a walk on ice or «mini-trekking».

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and forests, these ice cover approximately 195 km2, ie, over the surface of the Federal Capital, which is a distance of 2,800 km.

A halo of infinite peace of the untouched nature makes it a great attraction for those who want to enjoy the fresh air and the sound of silence. Only sound that interrupts the movement of the glacier, which constantly gives her Argentino Lake huge blocks of ice. These, detach the socket ablation, fall into Iceberg Canal producing a deep, shuddering roar.

His colossal progress successfully crossed the Iceberg Canal in 1947, as he leaned on land at the tip of the Magallanes peninsula, wiping out the forest lenga. Becoming a giant dam, cut the natural drainage of the entire southern part of the lake, the Brazo Rico.

This extraordinary phenomenon leads to the growth of the level of water from the Lake Argentino, causing a drop of almost 20 meters. The tremendous pressure on the glacier ends leaks and fracturing occurs, undermining it and eventually breaking it.

The gradual breakdown and subsequent leveling of the water, is a moving spectacle, unique in the world, which is repeated every three or four years, which is attended by thousands of people around the world.