Nordenskjold Lake, Magallanes Region, Chile

4ImmerWandern 5:00 PM Jul 19, 2020

Gorgeous turquoise glacial lake, foreground for the iconic Cuernos del Paine
We viewed the lake from primarily an overlook, Mirador Lago Nordenskjöld, on Y-150 or Cruce Ruta 9 on the way to and from viewing the outlet of the lake, Salto Grande, the "big waterfall". We could also see this turquoise lake during the descent from the base of the Torres. It is named after the Swedish explorer, Otto Nordenskjöld, who described the lake over 100 years ago. Its color is the classic one of lakes fed by. active glaciers, and glacial melt. The glacier not only carries massive boulders but also finely-ground rock powder known as glacial flour. It is so fine it that when the glacial meltwater enters the lake the fine powder remains suspended. Between the water itself and the glacial flours all the colors of the visible light spectrum are absorbed leaving only blue and green. Hence that intense color. The overlook was incredibly windy one afternoon, so much so I could literally lean into the wind. The wind kicked up waterspouts from the lake surface. Keep an eye for guanaco grazing, and a chance for a postcard perfect shot of the animal with the Cuernos as a backdrop (I was not that fortunate).

5Stephen47 5:00 PM Mar 8, 2020

Wonderful National Park in Southern Chile
We visited the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine last November staying at the excellent Hotel Lago Grey. The view from the window of our very comfortable room looked out across the Lago Grey to the mountains with the Glacier Grey to our left. The hotel's restaurant was very good and the staff pleasantly attentive. The journey to the National Park is very long - we came up from Punta Arenas - but it is well worth while. The turquoise of lakes and the blue and white of the mountains are awesome.