Glaciar Perito Moreno, a moving wall of ice near El Calafate
Published on 08/27/2026 at 07:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Glaciar Perito Moreno in southern Patagonia is one of the few glaciers in the world whose advancing ice front can be watched from structured walkways directly opposite its towering wall of ice. Set within Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province, this glacier was named in honour of the nineteenth?century explorer Francisco Moreno, who studied the region during border surveys between Argentina and Chile.
Glaciar Perito Moreno and its Patagonian setting
Glaciar Perito Moreno lies in the south?west of Santa Cruz Province in Argentina, within Los Glaciares National Park and forming part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that straddles the border with Chile.Los Glaciares National Park The glacier’s accumulation zone rises on the high plateau of this ice field, sending a long river of ice down towards the waters of Lake Argentino.Southern Patagonian Ice Field
The glacier’s terminal face meets the southern arm of Lake Argentino opposite the Magallanes Peninsula, where a network of walkways and viewing platforms has been built on firm ground above the lakeshore. From these walkways, visitors look directly across to the jagged front of the ice, which rises tens of metres above the milky glacial water and regularly calves blocks of ice into the lake. The lake itself is one of the largest in Argentina, filled by meltwater from several glaciers including Upsala, Onelli and Glaciar Perito Moreno, and framed by low Andean peaks and Patagonian steppe.Upsala, Onelli and Perito Moreno Glaciers
A glacier named for Francisco Moreno
The glacier carries the name of Francisco Moreno, often referred to as Perito Moreno, an explorer and polymath who undertook extensive fieldwork in Patagonia during the nineteenth century.named after the explorer Francisco Moreno He was involved in surveys that informed the 1902 arbitral award on the Andes frontier between Argentina and Chile, and his work contributed to the understanding of the region’s geography and natural resources. In recognition of his role, the glacier and other landmarks were named after him.
Glaciar Perito Moreno is one of several outlet glaciers draining the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which together represent one of the largest reserves of fresh water on the planet.the world's third-largest freshwater reserve The glacier extends many kilometres back towards its accumulation area, with a broad width and considerable ice thickness that together create the powerful advancing front seen above Lake Argentino. Los Glaciares National Park itself has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the outstanding natural beauty of its glaciers, lakes and subpolar forests, and for the way these elements illustrate glacial and geological processes on a grand scale.UNESCO World Heritage List
The advancing ice front and Lake Argentino
One of the distinctive features of Glaciar Perito Moreno is the way its advancing tongue periodically reaches the opposite shore of Lake Argentino, blocking a narrow channel between different arms of the lake. When the ice front closes this channel, water levels on one side rise relative to the other, creating a dammed basin held back by the glacier itself.blocks a narrow channel As pressure builds, the water eventually breaks through the ice barrier, leading to a dramatic rupture of the glacier tongue and the sudden release of accumulated water into the main body of the lake.
The glacier’s front, which reaches heights of around 60 m (197 ft) above the lake surface in some sections, presents a long wall of ice with vertical cliffs, serrated ridges and deep crevasses that catch the changing light through the day.up to 60 metres high When ice blocks calve from this face, they fall into Lake Argentino and form floating icebergs that drift away from the glacier, their bluish surfaces contrasting with the grey?green lake water. The sound of ice cracking and falling carries across to the Magallanes Peninsula, adding an auditory dimension to the sight of the moving glacier.
Visiting Glaciar Perito Moreno: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Glaciar Perito Moreno lies west of El Calafate in southern Santa Cruz Province, reached by road into Los Glaciares National Park along Ruta Provincial 11 and access roads towards the Magallanes Peninsula.
- The main viewpoints stand on tiered walkways above the shore of Lake Argentino, with paths and platforms that involve walking on solid surfaces and using staircases over varied gradients.
- The glacier sits within a mountainous Patagonian landscape, where conditions can include strong winds and rapid changes in cloud cover over the lake and surrounding peaks.
- El Calafate is the nearest town of significant size, and serves as the usual base for journeys to Glaciar Perito Moreno and other parts of Los Glaciares National Park.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Glaciar Perito Moreno on social platforms
These links open searches for Glaciar Perito Moreno on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Glaciar Perito Moreno
Where is Glaciar Perito Moreno located?
Glaciar Perito Moreno is in Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province, southwest Argentina, with El Calafate as the nearest major town.
What can visitors expect when viewing the glacier?
Visitors see a high wall of ice meeting Lake Argentino, with walkways on the Magallanes Peninsula providing varied vantage points over the glacier’s craggy front and calving ice.
What makes Glaciar Perito Moreno distinctive among glaciers?
Glaciar Perito Moreno is distinctive for its advancing tongue that can dam a lake channel, its accessible viewpoints opposite the ice front and its location within a UNESCO?listed Patagonian landscape.
