O'Higgins Glacier, Massive glacier in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile
O'Higgins Glacier is a vast sheet of ice in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park that covers a major portion of the surrounding landscape. Its surface shows deep crevasses and blue ice formations that flow down toward the lake below.
The glacier was named after Bernardo O'Higgins, who led Chile's independence struggle against Spanish colonial rule. This naming reflects how the remote Patagonian landscape became tied to national identity during the 19th century.
The glacier serves as a landmark along the Carretera Austral near Villa O'Higgins, connecting remote Patagonian settlements with the wider region. For local communities, it represents both a natural boundary and a symbol of the vast wilderness they inhabit.
The best views of the ice field come from a boat journey that departs from Villa O'Higgins across the lake. Weather in this region changes rapidly, so waterproof clothing and flexibility in your schedule help make the most of your visit.
Lautaro, an active volcano, forms the top where snow and ice accumulate before flowing down into the lake below. This combination of volcanic activity and glacial ice makes the location geologically unusual.
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