Glacier National Park

　　Introduction      Argentina's Glacier National Park is situated in the southern part of Argentina, on the eastern side of the Patagonian Andes, which are the southern section of the Andes mountain range that runs along the western edge of the South American continent, within the province of Santa Cruz in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The glacier lake where the park is located is called Lake Argentino, which covers an area of 1,414 square kilometers.

　　    This area lies at a high latitude of 52°S, not far from Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America, but relatively far from the capital, Buenos Aires, about a 3-hour flight away. The nearest town is El Calafate, 30 kilometers away, which all travelers must reach first before coming to Glacier National Park.

　　    Glacier National Park is a unique and beautiful natural scenic area. It features rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes, including Lake Argentino, which stretches for 100 miles. At the far end of the lake, where three glaciers converge, milky-gray glacial water cascades down, and massive dome-shaped icebergs crash into the lake with thunderous roars.

　　    The Patagonian Ice Sheet is the largest expanse of ice-covered land in the world after Antarctica. Within Argentina's Glacier National Park, there are 47 glaciers originating from the Patagonian Ice Sheet, and the lake where the park is located—Lake Argentino—receives ice flows and ice blocks from dozens of surrounding glaciers, the most famous of which is the Perito Moreno Glacier.

　　    Its fame lies in the fact that it is one of the few glaciers in the world that is still "alive." Here, visitors can witness the spectacular phenomenon of ice calving every day. In 1945, Argentina designated this area as a national park for protection, and in 1981 it was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The massive ice calving event of the Perito Moreno Glacier in March this year has drawn global attention.

　　 Buenos Aires, Argentina