THE GLACIERS - LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK
PERITO MORENO, UPSALA, ONELLI, SPEGAZZINI, MAYO...

WHAT IS A GLACIER? THE PERITO MORENO AND LOS GLACIARES NP.
It is said that a glacier us a river of water in a solid state, a mass of ice in constant movement with a certain speed depending on the slope and volume. The glacial ice ( a bluish transparent mass) is the product of the accumulation of snow throughout the centuries. Due to its own weight, the air trapped between the intergranular spaces is liberated.
The main conditions to enable the formation of a glacier are great snowfalls, and a mean annual temperature which may preserve the ice's consistency.

KINDS OF GLACIERS IN THE AREA
INDLANSIS: Enormous horizontal ice sheets, such as the Continental Icefield, which has a total surface of 17,000 km2.

CIRQUE GLACIERS: Located on the top of the mountain ranges.

VALLEY GLACIERS: They run along well defined valleys.

PIEDMONT GLACIERS: They are valley glaciers that broaden their front on reaching the lowlands, taking the shape of a fan.

COMPOUND: Glaciers nourished by minor lateral glaciers, forming an increased single course.

CALVING: When the front of the glacier is in contact with the water it loses a significant part of its mass due to the large pieces that fall off. Such is the case of the Upsala, Moreno, and Spegazzini Glaciers on Argentino Lake and Viedma Glacier on Viedma Lake.

RELATED ASPECTS

MORAINES: An accumulation of rocks, sand and clay carried by a glacier. They revel the former positions of the glacier. According to their location, moraines can be classified into lateral, central, bottom and terminus.

ERRATIC BOULDERS: Rocks of different sizes conveyed by glaciers and spread along the valleys when they receded.

ICEBERGS: Blocks of ice of different sizes and spectacular shapes that break-off a Calving glacier and drift along, pushed by the wind, only revealing the eighth part of their real size above water surface.

THE PHENOMENON OF THE RUPTURE OF THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER
The Perito Moreno Glacier flows down from the Cordillera like a large river of ice. On some occasions, it has crossed Canal de los Tempanos (Iceberg Channel) reaching the shore opposite the valley of the glacier.
Thus, the Glacier forms an ice dike that blocks the flow of the water from Brazo Rico (Rico Arm Channel) toward Argentino Lake, damming up this section of the lake.
When the level of the Rico Arm rises, the pressure it exerts on the Glacier wall gradually increases undermining the ice until a tunnel is opened and the water begins to flow into Argentino Lake. Then once again the two lake basins become communicated.
This natural cataclysm last a day or two, with spectacular ice detachments and is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and marvelous phenomenon in the world.
When the two basins are leveled, the glacier comes forth once again obstructing the channel and the whole process recommences.
These cycles are not regular and since the last breaking, recorded on February 17, 1988, this phenomenon has not happened again.

DAY 1 - Arrival to El Calafate Airport and transfer to hotel. 03 nts of accommodation with breakfast

DAY 2 - Excursion to the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier

DAY 3 - Boat Excursion to Los Glaciares National Park to enjoy three amazing glaciers: Upsala, Onelli and Spegazzini

DAY 4 - Transfer to airport

This is a basic program to visit El Calafate Area. Please visit our tour list to see more tours combining this area and others place in Argentina and Chile

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Perito Moreno Area: See our El Calafate Interactive Map	See our El Chaltén Interactive Map	Perito Moreno Glacier Navigation
Mayo-Moreno Glaciers Excursion	Upsala Glacier Excursion	Bahía Cristina Excursion
Upsala - Onelli Glaciers Excursion	Los Glaciares National Park i-Map	The Perito Moreno Glacier Area: What is a Glacier? Interactivity
Perito Moreno Glacier Area: Alice self-guided nature trail	Perito Moreno Glacier Area: Estancia Alice Birds of Steppe	Perito Moreno Glacier Area: Estancia Alice Waterflow
Province of Santa Cruz Interactive Map	Province of Santa Cruz, Perito Moreno Glacier and El Calafate General Information

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