Today we went to "el Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi"... It is very close to Bariloche (about one hour bus ride). It is the first national parc in Argentina - and believe it or not - it is really nice!
We trekked in three different places in the parc : the first trek was about one hour walk to this very nice waterfall. Okay, it is not as big as Iguazu, but once you know that the trees in ths parc are about 30-40m high, you realize it is not that small afterall...
The landscapes reminded very much of the French Alps (home sweet home...). The mountains are relatively low (2500-3500m). Just like anywhere else, the glaciers are recessing (apart from one glacier that we'll see further South). The U-shaped valley shows the extent of the former glaciers.
The main attraction of this national parc is the black glacier. It is visible on the right of the next picture. The huge rock in the middle of the picture is in fact ice. Since this glacier is on a volcan, the ice gets very dirty along its path, due to the contact with basaltic ashes.
And now the 100-dollar question... Why is the color of the two rivers soooo different? I think all the necessary elements are in this post!
We trekked in three different places in the parc : the first trek was about one hour walk to this very nice waterfall. Okay, it is not as big as Iguazu, but once you know that the trees in ths parc are about 30-40m high, you realize it is not that small afterall...
The landscapes reminded very much of the French Alps (home sweet home...). The mountains are relatively low (2500-3500m). Just like anywhere else, the glaciers are recessing (apart from one glacier that we'll see further South). The U-shaped valley shows the extent of the former glaciers.
The main attraction of this national parc is the black glacier. It is visible on the right of the next picture. The huge rock in the middle of the picture is in fact ice. Since this glacier is on a volcan, the ice gets very dirty along its path, due to the contact with basaltic ashes.
And now the 100-dollar question... Why is the color of the two rivers soooo different? I think all the necessary elements are in this post!
25 comments:
Hi,
So, this time you took your cable :-)
Congratulations for the pictures....
Best regards Jean-Yves
you got the cables but you lost your hands ?
waw ! are those fjords ?
the big rock in the middle of the picture is the big bornand.
I bet the dark water is full of basalt.
Hi,
I would guess the dark river comes from the black glacier...
Does the color have anything to do with the presence of penguins on argentinian beaches ?
Interesting fenomena with one black and one white river.
It does not have anything to do with penguins... I do not think so anyway. Jean-Yves is absolutely wrong. The dark water is actually totally clear and transparent (that might help...).
I was expecting the big bornand comment moche....
Hi,
Maybe white cold water from the glacier, and some clear warm water coming from a hot spring as you can find in volcanic regions...
Hoping I am not totally wrong this time, but only partially...
Best regards Jean-Yves
I would guess the white water comes from the waterfall and contains a lot of oxygen, whereas the black, clear water flows gently from the lake. I wonder which kind penguins would prefer ...
There is no hotspring.... You've got to work on the difference between snow and ice...
These free-flowing rivers have sediments carried along in their channels; in this case, the sediment carried from upstream is of a lighter color than the surrounding area. Also, this photo was taken in October, which is early spring in the southern hemisphere. Early snowmelt in the Andes may be swelling these small rivers, increasing their speed, and creating whitewater. Compare these small rivers to the larger, dammed river. Note that the reservoir is also light-colored. Since the dam causes water to back up behind it, the river flowing into the reservoir slows down, and deposits its sediments there. The river flowing out through the dam appears light-colored for a short ways, where its speed is probably great enough to create whitewater. Farther away from the dam, however, it has resumed a slower pace, and since it no longer carries any sediment, it appears dark.
Way to go brother... I am sure everybody is highly impressed :-). Are you sure you're not working too much?
Sooo It has to do with the sediments... The white river is full of sediments that were accumulated in the glacier (melted glacier water). The one appearing so black is actually so clear that you can see the rocks inside. It is just melted snow (yes, it's the season...).
It is also potable water.
Hi,
Greg, you deserve my congratulations !... :-)
Best regards Jean-Yves
Grégoire, sale petit tricheur :-)
http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/public/educators/howto/lithoAns/riosalado.shtml
Haha ! Owned ;-p
this conversation is the way too scientific for the Witch, better bring the pinguins back!
At least i made some researches... whereas you just had to copy the text, i had found, on google so ...
Pinguins pinguins pinguins!
Penguins * ... Don't speak franglish ;)
I had a doubt, but only because of the Witch [see comment N-2]...
Assuming your comment is number N Pierre, N-1 is Grégoire's and N-2 is yours...
I don't get it :-p
N - 2 starting with pierre commenting Pinguins pinguins pinguins... So no he was right...
He kind of studied maths a lot so ... ;)
Thanks Greg... At least somebody is following the blog carefully :-).
You're welcome...
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