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 →
