Southern Patagonia Ice Field ruptures

Chile’s 12,000 sq km Southern Patagonia Ice Field has split in two and is likely to continue to fracture amid climate change, scientists say

Scientists fear that such ruptures are becoming more frequent as increasing temperatures along Andes means less snow and ice to replenish glaciers

Torres del Paine National Park

SOUTHERN PATAGONIA ICE FIELD
Torres del Paine National Park
Puerto Natales
Lago Argentino
12 miles
20km

Tierra del Fuego
Puerto Montt
Patagonia
ATLANTIC OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
120 miles
200km
ARGENTINA
CHILE
ANDES


208 sq km chunk of ice split from main glacier by 100-metre gap
37km

Sources: Reuters, El Mercurio, www.glaciareschilenos.org
Pictures: NASA
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