This is the earlier than usual moment the huge glacier at one of Argentina’s top tourist spots starts to break up just weeks into the Argentine summer period as tourists watch on.
The glacier located is located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south-western Argentine province of Santa Cruz, and is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Argentine Patagonia.
According to local media, the Perito Moreno Glacier started to collapse at around 8.15pm in front of several eyewitnesses who were in the national park.
Video Credit: CEN/Mariela Veritier-PN Los Glaciares
The incident reportedly caused the authorities to close the park to new visitors.
The small group, led by tour guide Mariela Veritier, were about to leave when they witnessed the moment the glacier started to break up.
Veritier filmed two videos of the incident which were shared on the national park’s Facebook page where they have been viewed over 40,000 times.
Daniel Munoz, Head of the Forest Guards of the Glaciers National Park told local media: “It is unusual for the time of the year as it usually happens in March or so”
Lucas Ruiz, a member of the Argentine Institute of Levelogy, Glaciology and Sciences told local media: “The month with the highest rate of ruptures is March” and commented that in the last few decades “no change in the behaviour of the Perito Moreno glacier has been reported so that it is difficult to link this kind of situation with climate change”.
Video Credit: CEN/Mariela Veritier-PN Los Glaciares
According to local media, the natural dyke where the glacier is located has four times less water than this time last year.
It was not mentioned whether the situation has been caused by the effects of climate change.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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