Today, we visited the wonderful Perito Moreno Glacier. It was a truely spectacular sight on approach with huge cliffs of ice about 60 metres high. The glacier is about 30 kilometres long and 5 kms wide with a surface area of 195 sq. km.
The Perito Moreno sometimes experiences a Glacier Rupture. This happens when the glacier moves forward until it reaches the Magallanes Peninsula, creating a natural dam which blocks the flow of water between the two arms of the lake. The ice bridge that has been formed by the dam eventually collapses under the pressure of the water and the weight of the ice, creating what has been described as one of nature's most awesome spectacles ! We didn't see this unfortunately ! but we did see experience lots of loud cracks and bangs which resulted in many large icebergs crashing into the lake.
The glacier displayed some amazing hues of blue, depending on the compression of the ice.
The Perito Moreno sometimes experiences a Glacier Rupture. This happens when the glacier moves forward until it reaches the Magallanes Peninsula, creating a natural dam which blocks the flow of water between the two arms of the lake. The ice bridge that has been formed by the dam eventually collapses under the pressure of the water and the weight of the ice, creating what has been described as one of nature's most awesome spectacles ! We didn't see this unfortunately ! but we did see experience lots of loud cracks and bangs which resulted in many large icebergs crashing into the lake.
The glacier displayed some amazing hues of blue, depending on the compression of the ice.
The Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers said to be in 'Equilibrium'. This means that the rate at which the falling snow adds to the ice field, which feeds the glacier, is matched by the blocks of ice detonating off it's face .. so it re
mains largely the same size.
Our recreations of the famous Titanic scenes brought some puzzled looks from the other boat trippers ! And so to dinner in El Calafate - a lovely meal, where large Gin and Tonics all round were needed to absorb so much ice !!
Tomorrow it's out on the lake in a boat to see the icebergs first hand !
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