One of the most untouched and beautiful areas of the world, Patagonia includes parts of Chile and Argentina at the southernmost tip of South America. Our group traveled here aboard the Australis expedition cruise ship enjoying spectacular glaciers, endemic seabirds, penguins, and even leopard seals known locally as the wolves of the sea. After many decades, these icy wonderlands developed when compacted layers of snow accumulated under great pressure to form glacial ice. When ice chunks break off a glacier into the water, it is called calving. Watching calving is surreal as you first see the massive building-sized chunk of ice fall off into the water, then seconds later you hear the loud booming thunder as you watch the ripples reach your cruise ship a safe distance away. Scientific measurements have shown that these ice fields of southern Patagonia are melting at an alarming rate as the effects of global warming due to pollutants and carbon emissions reach the ends of the earth. The expiration date on these glaciers may soon be up and those who have witnessed their majesty may have only stories to tell their grandchildren.

Ann and Rob Simpson

Patagonia | Lord Fairfax Community College