If you are ever in Patagonia, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is one of the go-to destinations. Torres del Paine is actually our destination for the field trip I'm leading in a week - visiting the park is the whole reason for bringing 20 PhD students to Patagonia in the first place. I definitely wanted to spend some time exploring the park on the vacation leg of this trip (without students in tow!), and I'm really glad I did.
The name "Torres del Paine" refers to three towers that are the focal point of the park. "Paine" is derived from the indigenous Aonikenk word for "blue," and "Torres" is "towers" in Spanish. Lakes composed of melted glacial water abound, and their blue reflection on the towers gave the park its name.
To explore Torres del Paine is to observe the effects of glaciers on the landscape. Permanent snowy masses rest between mountain peaks. Frigid meltwater pools in nearly every valley. Scar marks on the terrain show the path of glacial retreat in the Pleistocene. Glaciers are a ubiquitous and powerful force in Torres.
The park is absolutely stunning. I could try to describe it, but my words would inevitably fall short. Thankfully, I brought my lab's
DSLR camera on this trip, so I have another option - I can show you the park. For the full effect, imagine your sore legs carrying a medium-heavy day pack while fresh, dry mountain air whips past your face and
fills your lungs. Please enjoy these views from Torres del Paine.
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| The namesake towers (3 pillars right in the middle background), with a glacial lake (Laguna Azul) |
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| Cascada Rio Paine |
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| A mountaintop glacier near Salto Grande |
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| Cascada Salto Grande |
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| Another view of the towers, this time from the ranch where we were staying, with the Patagonian landscape in the foreground |
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