From Formation to Calving: The Life Cycle of Glaciers in Chile

Glaciers in Chile are some of the world’s most amazing — and accessible — natural wonders.

How do glaciers form? It all begins with tiny snowflakes. Insignificant as they may seem, these flakes are the building blocks of glaciers, as they compress into ice in the space of a few years. Ice eventually separates from a glacier most spectacularly — through the process of calving. It occurs when an iceberg or a chunk of ice breaks off of the terminus — also known as the “snout” or “toe” — of a glacier and crashes into the sea or a lake. Witnessing calving glaciers is an unforgettable spectacle as you become part of what is easily among the most dramatic moments of the glacier life span.

With more than 2,000 glaciers that add up to almost 8,000 square miles of ice mass, Chile is one of the best places in the world to witness the stages of a glacier. The most impressive glaciers in Chile are found in the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. These ice fields are the remnants of a once-enormous ice sheet that reached its maximum size 18,000 years ago.

Check out our infographic, featuring some of the standout glaciers in Chile, to learn more about the life cycle of glacial ice — and then book your South America cruise to see these jaw-dropping masses up close.