Glaciers in Tierra del Fuego, Chilean Fjords

I have now spent more than four days in these fjords.  Absolutely breathtaking views and scenery.  It has been over two days without seeing any other human life or evidence thereof. Sandwiched between the tranquil valleys of the Lake District and the ice fields of Patagonia, Chile’s southern coast consists largely of heavily forested mountains, some of which rise dramatically (6,000 feet) from sea level. This area is assessable only by sea.  The weather has been everything from great to really wet and always cold.  Air temps have ranged from 35F to 45F.  The glaciers are just spectacular.  These glaciers have been dated to be approximately 30 million years old.  Glacial ice is the largest reservoir of freshwater on earth. The last glacial period lasted 15,000 years.  Interestingly, computer models are able to forecast that the next ice age will occur in 50,000 years.  The major caveat in this forecast is the effects of global climate change.

View from space of my current position in the Chilean Fjords.
View from space of my current position in the Chilean Fjords.
Closer image pinpointing my first position where the glacier images below were taken.
Closer image pinpointing my first position where the glacier images below were taken.
This is a perfect example of a retreating glacier.
This is a perfect example of a retreating glacier. Glaciers retreat when their terminus does not extend downvalley as it previously did. Glaciers retreat when their ice melts or ablates more quickly than snowfall can accumulate at higher elevations and form new glacial ice.
A closer image of the very same glacier. This photo has not been retouched by software. The blue hue is similar to any large body of water appearing blue. All the colors of the spectrum (excepting blue) are absorbed and only the blue is refracted. Making this more pronounced is that because of the immense pressure to this ice during formation, most of the air is squeezed out. This air is what give normal ice its white color.
A closer image of the very same glacier. This photo has not been retouched by software. The blue hue is similar to any large body of water appearing blue. All the colors of the spectrum (excepting blue) are absorbed and only the blue is refracted. Making this more pronounced is that because of the immense pressure to this ice during formation, most of the air is squeezed out. This air is what gives normal ice its white color.
A perfect example of a hanging glacier. As all glacial ice, because of the immense pressure under which it is formed, it is much more dense than regular ice.
A perfect example of a hanging glacier. As all glacial ice, because of the immense pressure under which it is formed, it is much more dense than regular ice.
Floating glacial ice which has calved from the retreating glaciers. Notice the distinct blue hue.
Floating glacial ice which has calved from the retreating glaciers. Notice the distinct blue hue.
My final location of the glaciers pictured.
My final location of the glaciers pictured.
One of hundreds of waterfalls.
One of hundreds of waterfalls.
Just a panoramic shot.
Just a panoramic shot.
This glacier appears like a giant tsunami.
This glacier appears like a giant tsunami.

Published by

Craig

Born in New Jersey in 1956. Lives in Colorado and travels the world.