Travel South America Skiing Adventures

Los Glaciers National Park, Argentina

** Nahuel Huapi National Park ** Iguazu Bird Park ** Iguazu National Park **
** Tierra del Fuego National Park ** Iguazu Falls **

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Los Glaciares is in Southern Patagonia and, as can be surmised by its name, is home to many glaciers. To be more precise, over 40 major glaciers and countless smaller ones. About forty percent of this 8,500 square miles of National Park is glacier. The scenery is dramatic with the high peaks of the Fitzroy Massif dominating the north of the Park and the two lakes the Lago Viedma and the Lago Argentine at the southern end. These lakes are fed by about a dozen glaciers and the area is know as the South Patagonia Icefields. There are many many more glaciers unconnected with this area still in the National Park.

The most well-known of those in the South Patagonia Icefields is the Perito Moreno Glacier which lies at the southern end of the Lago Argentino. The beginnings of this Glacier, which is 200 feet high and 2 miles long, were formed in the Ice Age, and its life-cycle is really not very different now.

gliding condor

The Perito Moreno is still active and is constantly moving forward, (forced by the build-up of ice at its source), into the Lake and dividing the water in two. Every few years once the build up of the water pressure on the two sides of the Glacier becomes too great, it explodes and a great torrent of water pours through the split and bits of ice are broken off which crash into the water creating icebergs sometimes the same height as the Glacier itself. However, every day smaller icebergs are broken off the Glacier, which is continually moving and crackling. Crossing the Lake by boat (the only way to get to the Glacier) you will be surrounded the constant crash of the collision of ice and water.

Although no-one is allowed to walk on the Glacier unguided, guided treks on the Glacier are an option. These are available either by joining a general group tour, or privately through some of the hotels in the area. Trekking on the Glacier is an experience not to be missed. If the sun is shining the Glacier is white, but when it is raining the Glacier is blue!

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The town nearest to the Moreno Glacier is Calafate which, (although the population has doubled in recent years), is not large and is very similar to the frontier towns of the old Wild West in appearance. However, as the most important town in the area it has a good airport and some comfortable hotels nearby.

Besides the Glacier the Park boasts some exotic wildlife such as flamingos and the Andean Condor, and activities that can be enjoyed include horse-riding, cattle round-ups, walking and bird-watching.

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