Parque Nacional Los Glaciares by junge1
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Description
A low gap in the Andes allows moisture-laden Pacific storms to drop their loads east of the divide, where they accumulate as snow and eventually form glaciers. Several of these glaciers are descending from the divide into this park. Although not the largest, the most spectacular and most easily accessible glacier of them all is Moreno Glacier. Moreno Glacier is one of only a few glaciers in the world that advances. The sights and sounds of the advancing glacier are spectacular. There are constant rifle shot-like sounds of the moving ice mass, and parts of the glacier are breaking of at frequent intervals.
The 247 sq km glacier advances toward Lago Argentino and in the process blocks off a part of Lago Argentino, the Brazo Rico (Rico Arm) of the lake.
The advancing front of the glacier is about 240-ft (74m) high and 3 miles (5km) long.
Because of continuing inflow of several rivers into the blocked part of Lago Argentino (the largest single body of water in Argentina) the water level of the blocked part begins to rise. Eventually the water level rises about 40-ft above the lower lake level and the weight of the blocked water overcomes the force of the blocking glacier ice and the blockage will give and collapse.
This collapse occurs anywhere between a little over a year to less than ten years, on average about every four years.
From the vantage point of this picture (approx. location S50d 28m 55s, 72d 58m 49s) Glacier Moreno is visible in the middle distance, about 5km distant. The body of water in the lower part of the picture is the upper and blocked part (Brazo Rico) of Lago Argentino.
This picture was taken on 19 December 2003 and despite the fact that it was only two days short of the beginning of summer, it was very windy and rainy with flowers near the end of the glacier at the viewing area and the snow line about a 1,000-ft above the viewing stands.
Thank you for visiting,
Sig...
Comments (40)
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend.
marybelgium
superbe !
miashadows
Very beautiful capture!
emmecielle
Outstanding image, Sig! Interesting info! :)
Seaview123
This is a great photo! Really nice to see this perspective of the glacier. Nice shot!
alessimarco
Really beautiful!
Iceshark39
Really beautiful shot and facinating information. A stunning capture.
thevolunteer
Wowee, what a fantastic scene. Sig, I don't know how you do it, but you sure have some awesome shots in your gallery. Very nice indeed. Aloha
flaviok
Fascinante captura e texto meu amigo, aplausos (5)
unstart
What an amazing photo and narrative!!
tennesseecowgirl
What a striking looking place!!
KaiArt
Excellent work
dragonmuse
Very cool capture.
Hendesse
What an impressive view. Excellent and very interesting shot!
drifterlee
Beautiful shot!
jeroni
Excellent shot, fantastic colors and details
jocko500
wow wish i could see this place live. cool shot
orig_buggy
Superb catpture!!
npauling
A great vantage point to see this wonderful sight. A great rainy capture.
Faemike55
Very fascinating shot and information
watapki66
Beautiful scene!
duncanoooo
Beautiful and great information Sig!
auntietk
Wow!!! What a fantastic shot! That's just spectacular. Thanks for sharing this ... it's a winner!
bazza
Nice shot, well done!
hipps13
Very cool and awesome to stare at warm hugs, Linda
renecyberdoc
another nice shot siggy.
jayfar
This is a great shot and thankyou for the story which gives it all meaning.
Alex_Antonov
Very well done!
lucindawind
wow what a beautiful glacier and shot ! Happy Easter :)
farmerC
Exellent Shot.