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Epic glacier collapse in Argentina [VIDEO]

By Kristen Butler, UPI.com
Amateur photographer Christian Grosso captured this photo of the Perito Morino glacier in Argentina as it collapsed in January 2013. (Credit: Christian Grosso)
Amateur photographer Christian Grosso captured this photo of the Perito Morino glacier in Argentina as it collapsed in January 2013. (Credit: Christian Grosso)

The Perito Morino glacier collapsed last month in Patagonia, in the Santa Cruz province of Argentina. Tourist and amateur photographer Christian Grosso caught a photo of the event while another tourist captured video. The Perito Morino glacier is unique as it cuts off Lake Argentino from Brazo Rico by forming a dam which prevents water transferring from two bodies of water. Over time, water cuts through the dam forming an ice bridge, which eventually collapses so the process can begin again.

Brazo Rico's water levels reach nearly 100 feet higher than the waters of Lake Argentino every four to five years. When this happens, the glacier cannot withstand the stress and the result is a rupture of the glacier. The last time this occurred was in March 2012. The collapse that Grosso witnessed was an after effect of the 2012 collapse, which hollowed out a large hole in the glacier. This collapse happened when a leftover ice bridge melted.

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