The Perito Moreno Glacier is the most unique and most beautiful glacier in Argentina. Due to its accessibility, it has become one of the most visited attractions in Patagonia. Hundreds of buses bring thousands of tourists every day. And there really is something to see!
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
Huge, 69 meters high walls of ice hang right in front of you. It seems that as soon as you reach out your hand, you will touch the blue ice... It's worth mentioning the color separately - the blue tint of ice is so bright that at first you just don't believe in it. I even want to tone down the saturation)
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
1. To get to the Perito Moreno Glacier, which is part of Los Glaciares National Park, you can take a tourist bus that leaves El Calafate in batches early in the morning. There would be a desire) A bus in both directions (only such a ticket can be bought) costs 450 pesos. Drive 78 kilometers from the city, the road is boring, you can safely sleep. At the entrance to the park, you will be charged another 260 pesos for entry. They will give you a brochure with the rules of conduct. Separately, I will say that in Argentina it is pleasant to pay all permits in parks - it is clear that they really go to the improvement and maintenance of a huge number of employees, rangers. Not what we have.
2. At the first glance at the glacier, it simply takes away the power of speech. This huge block of ice of bright blue color is amazing... It is worth visiting to understand my emotions...
Along the tongue of the glacier, there are metal hiking trails and observation platforms. Everything is so convenient that you involuntarily imbued with respect for the Argentines. Even here there are marked routes, the balconies are lower, middle. And even - an elevator for tourists with limited mobility!
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
3. The width of the tongue of the Perito Moreno glacier is 5 km, the average height is 60 m above the water surface. The average depth is 170 m, the maximum is 700 m. The speed of its movement is 2 m per day (approximately 700 m per year). However, the mass losses are about the same, therefore (not taking into account small deviations) the glacier tongue did not recede and did not advance for 90 years.
4. And this whole ice colossus moves, breathes and lives. Chunks of ice are constantly breaking off and falling into the water with an incredible roar. After a few moments, they float up and turn into icebergs.
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
5. We got to the glacier in cloudy weather, but the sun gradually began to seep through the dense veil of clouds. While we were waiting for the weather and icefall, we sat on one of the observation platforms. A whole class of Argentine schoolchildren sat next to us. It seems that the entire population of this country is drug addicts who cannot live without mate. How many locals go with bags, where a thermos with boiling water and a mug for mate with bombilla are hidden. And they constantly drink this bitter drink. And disgusting, disgusting)
6. Despite the spring, a cold wind blew from the Perito Moreno glacier. And the weather was not very conducive to tanning)
7. Equipped trails allow you to see the glacier from all sides, from above, from below, from the side. True, you have to work a little with your feet - during this day we have wound decent kilometers along these stairs.
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
8. The sun came out and everything around was transformed. The shade of the ice changed from an inky blue to a piercing blue. It seems that in cloudy weather the color was much brighter.
9. The light was dramatic) It's a pity that there was no way to stay at sunset - the bus left at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. And in the morning I had to leave for Chile. If you get hungry, there is a large cafeteria at the beginning of the route with completely inhumane prices. I highly recommend buying food and drinks in El Calafate and bringing with you.
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
10. We were in Patagonia in November, and this is the height of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Bright flowers looked very beautiful against the background of blue ice.
11. Such a mixture of seasons. There really were no snowdrops)
12. The sun did not please us for long, and again disappeared into the clouds.
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
13. Panorama of the Perito Moreno glacier (Spanish for "scientist Moreno").
15. The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the three persistent glaciers in Patagonia. Periodically, the glacier advances on the Argentino lake, curved in the shape of the letter "L", reaching the opposite shore and creating a natural dam that divides the lake into two parts. Without runoff, the water in the southern part of the lake can rise up to 30 meters above the level of the main lake. The enormous pressure of such a volume of water as a result breaks the ice barrier holding it, which is a very spectacular event. The cycle of dam formation and breakthrough is irregular and repeats with different frequencies - from once a year to less than once in a decade.