we cruise under a heavy cloud deck
the melting ice creates several waterfalls
Glaciers Avenue
West of Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel cuts its way through the Cordillera Darwin, a mountainous region at the southern end of the Andes range that is part of the Alberto de Agostini National Park.
These mountains reach heights well over 2000 meters and are covered by a thick sheet of ice, a local remnant of the once massive Patagonian Ice Sheet.
 
Half a dozen glaciers descend down towards the clear waters of the Beagle Channel.  For obvious reasons this section is called Glacier Avenue.
All glaciers have European country names, in honor of the brave explorers that mapped this region in the 19th century.
 
In  the evening of a cloudy day in February 2009, we sailed through Glaciers Avenue on our way from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas.
Despite poor weather conditions and low light we did enjoy the sight of the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Allemania and Romanche glaciers.
website075045.jpg website075044.jpg website075043.jpg website075042.jpg website075041.jpg website075040.jpg website075039.jpg website075038.jpg website075037.jpg website075036.jpg website075002.gif website075034.gif website075033.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
end
website075003.gif website075001.gif
a last glimpse of Ushuaia before we head west into the Beagle Channel
website075002.gif website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
there are many dangerous outcrops in the channel, luckily this one has a light
an Albatross leads the way
3
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
here comes our Chilean pilot to guide us safely through the channel
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
the first glacier we pass is the Hollanda. Unfortunately the proglacial lake remains hidden behind the trees
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
the Costa Victoria passes in front of the Francia Glacier
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
the Francia Glacier terminates right in the channel
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
the Via Australis approaches with the Francia Glacier as backdrop
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif website075008.gif website075007.jpg website075006.jpg
the Romanche Glacier sports a real waterfall
11
12
website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif website075003.gif website075002.gif website075001.gif
the massive Alemanina Glacier transports a lot of rubble and rocks