Pastoruri Glacier

About

Topping a mountain peak about 5,250 metres (17,200 feet) above sea level, Pastoruri Glacier covers around 8 square kilometers and empties into a high-altitude lake. However, this beautiful natural sight is in its death throes, having lost 22% of its size and 15.5% of its ice mass in the last 30 years. The severe melt is visible with the naked eye, with chunks falling off nearly constantly, and experts believe that it will all but disappear within a decade. More than a naturally beautiful sight, it’s a sobering example of the effects of climate change. The hike to reach the glacier is a bit over a mile, but at such a high altitude, it’s important to take it slow.