Glaciar Perito Moreno and the living ice of Patagonia
Published on 09/07/2026 at 15:13 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Glaciar Perito Moreno is a vast river of ice in southern Patagonia, where the Andes descend towards Lago Argentino and the steppe around El Calafate. The glacier forms part of Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province, a protected landscape recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
An ice wall framed by lake and mountains
Seen from the walkways above the lake, Glaciar Perito Moreno appears as a continuous wall of compressed ice stretching across the water of Lago Argentino. The glacier’s front is around 5 km (3.1 mi) long, with ice cliffs that rise roughly 60 to 74 m (197 to 243 ft) above the lake surface, depending on the measuring point.Its front is 5 km long and has walls up to 60 m high Behind this edge, the glacier continues back into the Andes as part of a much larger body of ice.
The ice itself extends for about 30 km (19 mi) from its higher catchment area down to the lake.The ice formation covers roughly 250 km² and stretches 30 km in length From a distance, the surface shows ridges and crevasses running along the glacier’s flow, with subtle variations in colour where the light catches different layers. In clear weather, the white and pale blue ice stands in front of dark rock slopes and snow-covered summits on the horizon.
Part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field
Glaciar Perito Moreno belongs to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a major expanse of ice shared between Argentina and Chile along the spine of the Andes.The glacier is one of many outlets of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Los Glaciares National Park This wider ice field forms the source area for a network of glaciers that descend into different basins on both sides of the border. Perito Moreno is one of the most visible of these outlets, ending directly in the waters of Lago Argentino.
The glacier has an estimated surface area of around 250 km² (97 sq mi), making it comparable in size to a large metropolitan area.Estimates place the glacier’s area at about 250 km² and its depth at up to 170 m Measurements at the front indicate ice thicknesses in the order of 170 m (558 ft) at some points, with deeper sections further back towards the central ice field. These figures underline that the visible face above the lake represents only a fraction of the glacier’s total volume.
A named landscape near El Calafate
The glacier takes its name from the Argentine explorer and scientist Francisco Moreno, who was born in 1852 and became a prominent figure in surveys and conservation work in Patagonia.The glacier is named after Francisco Moreno, an Argentine explorer and researcher In Spanish, it is known as Glaciar Perito Moreno, using a title that refers to his role as an expert or specialist. The glacier also appears in some historical records under other names, but the Perito Moreno name is now firmly established.
Glaciar Perito Moreno lies within Los Glaciares National Park, which forms part of a broader Andean and Patagonian landscape of mountains, lakes and ice.Los Glaciares National Park, including Perito Moreno, is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site The park’s designation recognises the combination of extensive glaciers, rugged peaks and large lakes shaped by past glaciations. El Calafate serves as the nearest town of any size and the usual base for reaching the viewpoints along the lake.
Visiting Glaciar Perito Moreno: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Glaciar Perito Moreno lies to the west of El Calafate in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province and is reached via the road that enters Los Glaciares National Park on the southern shore of Lago Argentino.
- The viewpoints are arranged along a system of walkways that run on solid ground above the lake, with steps and changes in level between different platforms.
- The terrain around the viewpoints involves walking on constructed paths with railings, while the broader landscape combines Andean slopes, lake shores and stretches of open Patagonian steppe.
- 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Glaciar Perito Moreno
Where is Glaciar Perito Moreno located?
Glaciar Perito Moreno lies in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province, west of the town of El Calafate and beside Lago Argentino.
What should visitors expect when they see the glacier?
Visitors encounter a long ice front rising tens of metres above Lago Argentino, backed by the Andes and accessible via constructed walkways on the rocky shoreline.
What makes Glaciar Perito Moreno distinctive among glaciers?
Glaciar Perito Moreno combines a substantial size, direct contact with a large lake, a relatively accessible viewpoint network and a position within a UNESCO-recognised Patagonian icefield landscape.
