| Perito Moreno Glacier | |
|---|---|
 The terminus of the glacier in Lago Argentino | |
  | |
| Coordinates | 50°30′S 73°08′W / 50.500°S 73.133°W |
| Area | 250 km2 (97 sq mi) |
| Length | 30 km (19 mi) |
| Width | 5 km (3 mi) |
| Thickness | 170 m (560 ft) |
| Terminus | Lago Argentino |
| Status | Retreating |
The Perito Moreno Glacier (Spanish: Glaciar Perito Moreno) is a glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, and originated in the Magallanes Region in Chile. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia.
The 250 km2 (97 sq mi) ice formation, 30 km (19 mi) in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile which has a small part of the origins of the glacier.[1][2] This ice field is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water.
The Perito Moreno Glacier, located 78 kilometres (48 mi) from El Calafate, was named after the explorer Francisco Moreno, a pioneer who studied the region in the 19th century and played a major role in defending the territory of Argentina in the conflict surrounding the international border dispute with Chile.