What happens at the Perito Moreno every four years?

Every three or four years, the Perito Moreno glacier in Los Glaciares National Park loudly collapses into a large lake. Every two to four years, the large arch of blue and white ice thunderously collapses into the glacial Lake Argentino below.

Where is the Perito Moreno glacier found?

Argentina
The Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It is one of the most important tourist attractions for Patagonia travel.

What is so special about Perito Moreno Glacier?

Perito Moreno is perhaps the region’s most famous glacier because it periodically cuts off the major southern arm (known as Brazo Rico) of Lake Argentino. The glacier advances right across the lake until it meets the opposite shoreline, and the ice tongue is “grounded” (not floating) so that it forms a natural dam.

When did the Perito Moreno glacier collapse?

2004
The UNESCO-protected Perito Moreno is one of Argentina’s most popular tourist attractions; many people travel here to get a photograph of one of the blue icebergs being carved off the glacier. The Perito Moreno ice arch experienced a prolonged period of stability between 1988 and 2004, when it finally collapsed.

Why is Perito Moreno Glacier blue?

The Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the most accessible in Argentinian Patagonia, is 3 miles (5 kilometers) wide with a height of 197 feet (60 meters) on average. If a glacier looks blue it’s because the ice within is very dense and all the air has been squeezed out.

How old are the glaciers in Patagonia?

5. It’s old. The Perito Moreno glacier began to form during the last Ice Age, which started approximately 2.6 million years ago and ended around 11,700 years ago. Scientists calculate that the Perito Moreno glacier is approximately 18,000 years old.

Is the Perito Moreno Glacier melting?

Despite this global glacier-melting trend, there are a few glaciers that are growing, one of which is the Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier belongs to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which is the third largest freshwater reserve on the planet after the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets.

Is Perito Moreno Glacier melting?

Can you walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier?

Walking on one of Argentina’s biggest tourist attractions is truly sensational. You can book short Perito Moreno Glacier tours (known as ‘Mini Trekking’) or the larger ‘Big Ice’ which lasts for a few hours more and can even go inside ice caves depending on the time of year.

How often does the Perito Moreno Glacier rupture?

Every 4 to 5 years, a phenomenon known as a ‘rupture’ occurs at the glacier, and glaciologists of Los Glaciares National Park have recently confirmed that the cycle of the ‘closing of the glacier’, which eventually leads to its rupture, has officially begun.

When was the last time the Perito Moreno bridge ruptured?

The last recorded rupture of the bridge occurred on March 10, 2016. Here are the years of the previous ruptures in the last 4 decades: 2016, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2006, 2004, 1988, 1986, 1980.

Are there any glaciers still growing in Patagonia?

This glacier is one of only 3 Patagonian glaciers that are still growing and advancing today, while all other glaciers in the Southern and Northern ice fields of Patagonia are receding and shrinking. The reasons for this still remain an issue of debate among glaciologists.