Gobierno de Santa Cruz - Patagonia Argentina
   
Untitled Document
About the Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the glaciers that makes up the “Los Glaciers” National Park with a dimension of 17.000 kilometres and is considered one of the most important drinkable water reserves in the world. Its’ front has a 5 km width and more than 60 sq mt of height over sea level. The last rupture took place in March 2004.
Since 1879 when the Glacier was first seen it had many names until 1899 when it received its proper name of Perito Moreno, in honor of the great argentine naturalist Francisco Pascasio Moreno. This exceptional argentine naturalist dedicated his life to exploration in the Patagonia, being his works of unspeakable relevance to the definite demarcation of the austral border between Chile and Argentina.

Why does it detach?

The rupture and detachment of the Perito Moreno Glacier is a natural phenomenon that occurs every two to four years, approximately. The process begins when the glacier, situated in one of the Lago Argentino arms, advances towards the Magellan peninsula covering its drying paths. This cut provokes a considerable rise of the water level, 20 sq mt approximately, that rapidly starts to make a strong pressure on the front of the glacier. This way it starts to fracture itself and then it ends with the detachment of huge blocs of ice.
How to arrive?

The Perito Moreno glacier is found in the Zona Roca, south of the “Los Glaciers” National Park. To arrive one needs to take Ruta Provincial Nº 11 that unites El Calafate with Punta Bandera. A few kilometres before one needs to take the path until the Magellan Peninsula that arrives in front of the glacier.
Subsecretaría de turismo de Santa Cruz - Developed byLupa Corporation