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A Little Glaciology

View from the Mirador - Glacier Perito Moreno, El Calafate, South Patagonia, South America

View from the Mirador – Glacier Perito Moreno, El Calafate, South Patagonia, South America

The reason why glaciers can be found at such a low altitude here has to do with the special climatic situation. Due to the moist-laden clouds coming in from the Pacific, an average of 30 meters of snow fall in this part of the Andes. As more snow builds up over the years and the pressure increases, the snow turns into ice. That extra weight forces the glacier to move downhill. The terrain it moves along is not plain and smooth, so the ice cracks and develops bizarre deformities, called crevasses. It is these wild forms and the various shades of blue that make glaciers such subjects of awe. Add the milky green waters of the glacier lakes, blue skies, snow-capped mountains in the background and green trees growing all the way down to the lake, you have the perfect tourist attraction. Continue Reading →

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El Calafate – Parque Nacional Los Glaciares

Glacier Upsala, the biggest glacier in South America, Parque Nacional de los Glaciares, El Calafate, South Patagonia, South America

Glacier Upsala, the biggest glacier in South America, Parque Nacional de los Glaciares, El Calafate, South Patagonia, South America

Our first excursion in El Calafate took us to this National Park. After a short bus ride to Puerto Bandera, we embarked our boat, the Quo Vadis, a state of the art catamaran designed for 310 people, for the trip on Lago Argentino. Although we knew we would get to see some of the most spectacular glaciers on this globe, we were overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the glaciers and incredible display of colors. Continue Reading →

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