El Calafate

We have arrived at El Calafate a town near the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. It’s mainly known as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the massive Perito Moreno Glacier.

The journey from Puerto Madryn was indeed a long one. A seen (7) hour bus journey from Puerto Madryn to Comodoro Rivadavia where we thought we could board a bus to El Calafate. However, we were wrong, but much to out luck we had a bus going out to Ros Gallegos and another one from there to El Calafate. So it would be an overnight drive to Gallegos and another 4 hours to El Calfate. 30 hours in all. We departed Sunday 0800 and reached El Calafate 1400 on Monday morning. Staying at a (Distance 1545km) nice pleasant, eat and clean hostel called Los Pinos which is close to the Centro.

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED 
FLIGHT:  18685km
BUS: 6060  km

We did not travel down to El Calafate without a reason. Ever since I looked at the sights to see in Patagonia I was fascinated by the Glacier - PERITO MORENO. I knew it was located in Los Galciares  National park and it was a sight one must not miss. 


I tried to show the expanse of the Glacier. To the left is BRAZO RICO and to the right is ARGENTINO lake. (Both pictures from the net)
The Y shaped brownish lake to the left is BRAZO RICO and the blue lake is ARGENTINO lake. The Glacier stops at the confluence and 'dams' the Brazo Rico lake


The 250 km2 (97 sq mi) ice formation, and 30 km (19 mi) in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. This ice field is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water.
The glacier is unusual in that it is advancing, while most glaciers worldwide are retreating.  

 Pressures from the weight of the ice slowly pushes the glacier over the southern arm ("Brazo Rico") of Argentino Lake, damming the section and separating it from the rest of the lake. With no outlet, the water level on the "Brazo Rico" side of the lake can rise by as much as 30 meters above the level of the main body of Argentino Lake. Intermittently, the pressure produced by the height of the dammed water breaks through the ice barrier causing a spectacular rupture, sending a massive outpouring of water from the Brazo Rico section to the main body of Lake Argentino. As the water exits Brazo Rico, the scored shoreline is exposed, showing evidence of the height of the water build-up. This dam–ice-bridge–rupture cycle recurs naturally between once a year to less than once a decade.[


Front face of the Glacier





The terminus of the Perito Moreno Glacier is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide, with an average height of 74 m (240 ft) above the surface of the water of Argentino Lake, in Argentina. It has a total ice depth of 170 metres (558 ft).
With David - Light is poor this time around. It could be sunny, and for the next photo it could be blowing hard
A Chilean lady we met on our bus. They had forgotten their wollies on the bud and the "Bandra' boys provide them with Gloves, woollen cap, sun glasses 
Not yet seen the Glacier. We had to walk on a path way, that skirts the mountain side
My first view 'Takes your breath away"
Add caption
Another first view
The sheer size - Cannot wait to get closer
Everyone is clicking away. One has to look after themselves so SELFIE
Small chunks of the glacier have broken away on float into Argentino lake. All the area that we see is the Argentino lake which is clear, unlike Brazo Rico lake which is muddy.





It is scary, a 70m wall of ice in front of you.
Path has a number of staging area, with benches for a snack and photo-ops
Perito Moreno - between the bushes
One notices the staging areas below
One the staging areas
It seems that the Glacier has stopped short of the staging area
Looking across the glacier - It is 5 km wide


Breaking news - St Peters Matador stops Perito Moreno in its track

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