The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina, one of the world’s most iconic ice formations, is drawing global attention not only for its breathtaking beauty but for alarming signs of accelerated melting. Recently, colossal chunks of ice some as tall as 70 meters, the height of a 20-story building have been calving from the glacier’s face and crashing into the turquoise waters of Lake Argentina.
This natural spectacle has long captivated tourists at Los Glaciares National Park in southern Patagonia. Platforms and boat tours offer close-up views of the glacier’s dramatic icefalls, drawing gasps from visitors as the thunderous cracking and splintering echoes across the lake. Yet, what once symbolized nature’s grandeur is now stirring concern among scientists and guides.
“Ice calving events of this size haven’t been very common over the past two decades,” said Pablo Quinteros, a longtime park guide. “Only in the last four to six years have we started to see icebergs this big.”
Perito Moreno was once considered stable, defying global trends of glacial retreat. For nearly 80 years, its ice mass held steady, alternating between slight advances and retreats. However, since 2020, researchers have noted a persistent and measurable retreat. Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz, who co-authored a recent state-backed report, revealed that the glacier is now losing up to two meters of water equivalent annually.
According to Ruiz, rising temperatures increasing by about 0.06°C per decade and declining precipitation are reducing ice accumulation in the glacier’s upper regions. Melting and calving are now outpacing replenishment, disrupting the glacier’s long-standing balance.
Despite the warnings, the glacier continues to awe visitors. “It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen,” said Brazilian tourist Giovanna Machado. “You can’t grasp the immensity of it in photos. It’s perfect, and everyone should see it at least once.”
As climate change alters even Earth’s most resilient ice giants, Perito Moreno stands as both a marvel and a warning of what may lie ahead.
