Perito Moreno
The ice giant that never stops moving.
In the south of Argentina there is a landscape where the ice seems alive. There you will find Perito Moreno Glacier, an immense mass of ice that slowly advances day after day and that, from time to time, surprises visitors with an unforgettable spectacle: enormous blocks of ice break away from its wall and fall into the water with a roar that resembles thunder.
It is one of the few large glaciers in the world that is still naturally advancing. That is why it is considered one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural treasures.
A river of ice in motion
Although it may seem like a completely motionless mountain, a glacier works like a very special river. Instead of liquid water, it is made of ice that moves slowly because of its immense weight.
Perito Moreno is about 30 kilometers long, rises up to 70 meters above the surface of Lake Argentino, and in some places its thickness exceeds 250 meters. All of that gigantic block of ice advances several meters each year, driven by the snow that accumulates in the Andes mountains.
That movement is so slow that it is impossible to notice with the naked eye. However, it never stops.
The spectacle of falling ice
The glacier’s most famous feature is its enormous front wall, where the ice comes into contact with the lake waters. There a phenomenon known as calving takes place. Over time, cracks appear in the ice. Some are small, but others cross giant blocks. Eventually, the pressure causes those huge fragments to break away from the glacier and fall into the lake, sending up waves and making the entire valley rumble.
Some of these blocks are the size of a multi-story building. Watching them break off is an experience that impresses even those who have visited many other natural landscapes.
A world of ice and water
Perito Moreno Glacier is part of Los Glaciares National Park, one of the most important protected areas in South America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park is home to mountains, forests, turquoise lakes, and numerous glaciers that originate in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the third-largest reserve of frozen freshwater on the planet, surpassed only by Antarctica and Greenland.
In the surrounding area live condors, foxes, guanacos, giant woodpeckers, and many other species adapted to Patagonia’s cold climate.
Why does it keep advancing?
Many glaciers around the world are retreating due to rising temperatures. However, Perito Moreno has maintained a very unusual balance for decades.
The amount of snow it receives in the mountains is enough to offset much of the ice it loses when it breaks off. Thanks to that balance, it continues to advance and offers one of the most astonishing natural spectacles on the planet.
Scientists study this glacier to better understand how these giants of ice work and how they may change in the future.
A Natural Treasure
The Perito Moreno Glacier belongs to the Natural Treasure category because it brings together some of nature’s most impressive phenomena. Its immense size, the constant movement of the ice, and the spectacular calving events make each visit a unique experience.
Facing its enormous bluish wall, it is easy to understand that Earth remains a planet in constant transformation. Perito Moreno is not just a simple mountain of ice: it is a living giant that reminds us of nature’s extraordinary power and one of the most breathtaking landscapes on our planet.
