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Polaroid of the week: Black ice at Ventisquero Negro Glacier, Argentina

Polaroid of the week: Black ice at Ventisquero Negro Glacier, Argentina

Last Updated on July 23, 2020

polaroid of the week argentina lake district black glacierWhile researching things to see in Argentina’s Lake District, I came across stories of a trip to a black glacier. All the images we had seen of glaciers in Patagonia were either bright white or a had cool blue hue, but black? We wanted to see this for ourselves.

So after crossing back over the Andes from Chile into Argentina, we set off on a tour of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, outside of Bariloche, to visit the Black Glacier, or Ventisquero Negro Glacier. The day tour is packed with highlights, but the ultimate sight is the three snowy peaks of Mount Tronador. Actually an extinct volcano, this mountain serves as the border between Argentina and Chile, and has a total of eight glaciers. Ventisquero Negro (which means ‘black snowdrift’), with its black ice at the base of the mountain is definitely the most unusual. For a full view of what this all looks like, check out our Facebook Photo of the day.

The ice almost looks like rocks, but is really dirt and sediment from avalanches above compacted into the ice over thousands of years. The ice-free terra firma where we stood to take these pictures was once all glacier as well, but has since receded significantly, leaving a lagoon in its place. The lagoon is home to several ice blocks of all shapes and sizes that fall from the glaciers and float here until they melt. When the brown blocks of ice crack in pieces on their way down, the bright white of the glacier gleams out from the thin dark layer that encases it.

 

Shalu Sharma

Wednesday 27th of February 2013

Hey Jess, thank you for your response. I apologise for the spelling mistake in my previous comment. I must have written that in a hurry.

Shalu Sharma

Wednesday 27th of February 2013

Very interesting place. The ice does seem black. Nicely explained how its formed. The full view you posted in Facebook is interested, looks like muddied water. Its definitely unusual.

Jess

Wednesday 27th of February 2013

It was really unusual, and then there was still the bright white glacier on top of the mountain, too, so you had a bit of everything!

Nico

Saturday 23rd of February 2013

Looks really amazing.

Nico recently posted The restaurant where Big Gay Al meets Alice in Wonderland

Andi of My Beautiful Adventures

Friday 22nd of February 2013

Wow what an incredible place!

Dani

Saturday 23rd of February 2013

Thanks, Andi! We're blown away by how beautiful Patagonia is!

Mindy and Ligeia

Friday 22nd of February 2013

Wow, this place looks amazing. Will definitely add it to our list of things to see when in the area. Did you dare to swim in the lagoon? I once swam in a lake at the bottom of a glacier in southern Iceland. Needless to say, it wasn't a long dip but it was certainly refreshing. :) Ligeia

Dani

Friday 22nd of February 2013

We were not allowed to go into the lagoon, but I wouldn't have dared to swim in there!! There were so many ice blocks, I can't even imagine how cold the water must be. :D