We flew from Ushuaia to El Calafate where we were spending a few days before crossing the border into Chile. This is the second time we have been in El Calafate. Things have changed in ten years. There has been a big increase in the number of tourists in the area. The other noticeable difference was the number of stray dogs in the town. We learned that with covid people left the area because there were no jobs. People could not afford to take care of their pets so they were released or left behind.
The day we arrived we went for a walk along Lake Argentina. This lake is 90% glacier-fed and has a very distinct milky colour.
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| Birds in the area |
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| Bill found a friend |
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| Lake Argentina |
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| Pink Flamingos |
The next day we went to Los Glaciares National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most accessible glacier in the park is Perito Moreno Glacier. There is a metal walkway across from the glacier that allows visitors to view the glacier that meets Lake Argentina. The glacier is still very impressive but ten years later there are now 100,000 visitors a year.
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| Perito Moreno Glacier |
The glacier is 100 square Km. which is the size of Buenos Aires. Perito Moreno Glacier is not receding but is maintaining its size. The glacier receives enough snow to compact each year to keep it from receding. Perto Moreno Glacier is my favorite glacier and I was very happy to spend time in this park.
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| Lake Argentina and Icebergs from Glacier |
While in El Calafate we stayed at the Kosten Aike Hotel. Dinner was at a small local restaurant called La Tinachera Wine and Beer where we had an excellent meal.
The next day we started the long bus ride to cross the border into Chile.
Calafate is a bush berry that looks like a blueberry. The saying is if you eat a calafate berry you will return to El Calafate.
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| Calafate Berry |
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