Los Glaciares National Park is located in the area known as Austral Andes in Argentina, in the south west of Santa Cruz on the border with Chile. By his magnificent natural beauty, it constitutes a wonder in the world, and was declared "World Heritage" by UNESCO in 1981.

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General aspects

This park shows a scenario of mountains, lakes and woods, including a large portion of the Andes practically under ice and snow to the west, and the arid Patagonian steppe to the east.

Its name refer to the glaciers that are born on the Ice Caps - the largest continental ice extension after Anctartica- which occupies almost half its area. Also known as Patagonic Continental Ice, creates 47 big glaciers, 13 of which flow to the Atlantic. There are also more than 200 smaller glaciers, unconnected to the Ice Caps.

Los Glaciares National Park map

Los Glaciares National Park is located in the area known as Austral Andes in Argentina, in the south west of Santa Cruz on the border with Chile.

All over the world glaciers are over 2500 mts over sea level, but here, in Santa Cruz, they are originated on the Ice Caps, at 1500 mts over sea level, and flow down to 200 mts, having the possibility of an unique approach and view.

As a result of the enormous pressure of the antique ice and the subsequent thaw, three big lakes, two of them inside the NP appeared: Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma, the waters of which flow as Rio Santa Cruz to the Atlantic Ocean crossing the province.

Tourist Activities

Nowadays, the Park welcomes a great number of tourists from all around the world, offering multiple choices to visit it almost all the year round. 

Glaciar Perito Moreno

On the southern area of the Park, the most famous glacier can be seen: Perito Moreno. It is very famous because of its dynamic changes, which produces a cyclic phemomenon of forward and backward movement, with spectacular ice falls from its front walls. The closest town is El Calafate, center of all the activities and services.

Monte Fitz Roy

On the northern extreme of the park, the granite peaks, lakes, woods and glaciers become all together one of the most extraordinary places of the world. The highest mountains are Mt. Fitz Roy (3405m) and Mt. Torre (3102 m). In this scenario, the small village of El Chaltén, gives shelter to the climbers and trekkers of all around the world.

Flora & Fauna

Flora

Flora of the patagonic Andes is mainly composed of lenga, el ñire y el guindo (Nothofagus sp.)

Fauna

National Park´s Fauna has species from sub anctartic woods and the steppe. Condor, Aguila mora, choique, guanaco, puma (Felis concolor) are representative from this area.