Foto: The Perito Moreno Glacier (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Argentina - The Perito Moreno Glacier (Spanish: Glaciar Perito Moreno) is a glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in southern Argentina. The glacier is accessible from El Calafate in Patagonia. Perito Moreno Glacier is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s third largest freshwater reserve. The glacier ends in a fjord, where the ice is 60 meters thick and 5 kilometers wide. The ice mass advances by 1 to 2 meters per day. This can be observed by the cracking sounds of the ice blocks sliding over each other, and periodically large chunks of ice break off from the glacier, falling into Lake Argentino with a loud crash. The glacier is named after Francisco Moreno, an Argentine explorer who surveyed the area in the 19th century and helped keep it out of Chilean hands. The Perito Moreno Glacier is a major natural tourist attraction. Through the Magellan Peninsula, it is possible to get close to the glacier. There are several viewing platforms, and it is also possible to take boat trips along the glacier. From time to time, the ice mass reaches the mainland, blocking the southern arm of the lake, Brazo Rico, from the Canal de los Témpanos. As a result, the water level in the southern arm can rise up to 30 meters, creating enormous pressure on the ice dam, which eventually breaks. This phenomenon has occurred in the following years: March 2006, 2004, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1977, 1975, 1972, 1970, 1966, 1963, 1960, 1956, 1953, 1952, 1947, 1940, 1934, and 1917.
La Boca – Artists' District
Argentina - We stroll through the shopping streets on our way to Plaza de San Martin, where the bike tour to the La Boca district begins. Ana is our guide for the ride. We put on our helmets and follow her on our mountain bikes. Along the way, Ana tells us about ...
Penguins on Peninsula Valdés
Argentina - Early start! At 7:30 a.m., we depart by bus to Peninsula Valdés. We decide to visit the penguin colony on the northern side of the peninsula, as the colony at Punto Tombo is over three hours away and doesn’t fit into the schedule. But first—whale ...
The Argentina of Eva Perón
Argentina - Eva Perón, born María Eva Duarte on May 7, 1919, in Los Toldos, Argentina, grew up in poverty. Her father, Juan Duarte, left the family when Eva was still young, leaving them in difficult circumstances. At the age of 15, Eva moved to Buenos Aires with ...
Ushuaia: ‘Fin del Mundo’
Argentina - We regroup at the restaurant and drive back to Ushuaia. We're dropped off in the city center and just have time to grab a quick sandwich. Sandwich in hand, we head to the harbor to check in for the boat tour. We sail out into the Beagle Channel. The weather ...