Perito Moreno Glacier sets retreat record on 1 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:33 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Perito Moreno Glacier recorded a retreat record on 1 October 2026 after its front moved 910 metres from the Magallanes Peninsula between 24 February and 4 June. The glacier is in Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate, Argentina, where new drone monitoring has documented a faster change than in earlier decades.
Perito Moreno Glacier sets a retreat record in 2026
The finding came from a joint monitoring project by Glaciarium and the administration of Los Glaciares National Park. Regular unmanned-aircraft flights began in May 2025 and tracked the position of the ice front across the 2025-2026 summer and the following autumn.
The 910-metre retreat exceeded the roughly 750 metres recorded in 1899 by German geologist Rudolf Hauthal. A drone monitoring report said the recent movement was concentrated in the section facing the lake. It also recorded frequent ice break-up and thinning close to the terminus.
The retreat is a research finding announced on 1 October 2026, rather than a forecast of a specific future collapse. The researchers said that the glacier could continue retreating, but the available model does not set a date or make that outcome inevitable.
New measurements show rapid ice loss near El Calafate
The monitored period covered 197 days and produced a combined surface loss of 1.46 square kilometres. The summer accounted for 0.81 square kilometres, while a further 0.65 square kilometres disappeared during autumn 2026.
That total represented 44% of the area lost since 2018, according to data attributed to Glaciarium. Large ice blocks were also observed floating in the Canal de los Témpanos, one of the waterways in front of the glacier. A regional report on the measurements said the project also carried out depth surveys in the Canal de los Témpanos and Brazo Rico on 19 March 2026.
The ice front had been comparatively stable between 1999 and 2013, when its position varied by less than 50 metres. The pattern changed from 2018, with researchers recording surface loss, thinning, faster ice flow and retreat towards both the Canal de los Témpanos and Brazo Rico.
Why the glacier’s underwater terrain matters
Research cited in the monitoring coverage identifies a submerged ridge extending from the Magallanes Peninsula beneath the ice. It divides the flow towards the two water channels and has helped support the front during earlier decades.
Recent measurements found depths of 110 to 180 metres in the Canal de los Témpanos and 70 to 100 metres in Brazo Rico. The relationship between the underwater terrain and the floating ice is therefore central to understanding the new retreat: a move into deeper water could leave more ice in contact with the lake and encourage further break-up.
A separate reconstruction cited by Infobae found that the rate of frontal surface lowering increased from 0.34 metres per year between 2000 and 2019 to as much as 5.5 metres per year between 2019 and 2024. Those figures describe changes near the front, not a uniform movement of the entire glacier.
Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The reported retreat was measured between 24 February and 4 June 2026, and the finding was announced on 1 October 2026 at the glacier in Los Glaciares National Park.
- Los Glaciares National Park remains open throughout the year, according to the park administration. The research finding does not itself announce a closure of the main viewpoints or walkways.
- The glacier lies near El Calafate in Argentina, within Los Glaciares National Park. The monitored front faces the Canal de los Témpanos and Brazo Rico.
- The site includes elevated terrain, boardwalks and viewpoints above lake water and ice. The retreat measurements concern the glacier front and do not describe a change to the visitor paths.
- Argentina's official language is Spanish and its currency is the Argentine peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Perito Moreno Glacier
When was the retreat record at Perito Moreno Glacier reported?
The finding was reported on 1 October 2026 after measurements showed a 910-metre retreat between 24 February and 4 June 2026.
What has changed at Perito Moreno Glacier?
The monitored front retreated 910 metres, while the glacier lost 1.46 square kilometres during the 2025-2026 summer and autumn of 2026.
Where is Perito Moreno Glacier and how do you get there?
It is near El Calafate in Argentina, inside Los Glaciares National Park. The park administration says the protected area remains open throughout the year.
