INCREDIBLE COLLAPSE TRIGGERED BY GLACIER CALVING | South America, Chile

An incredibly large chunk of the Grey Glacier's ice-sheet breaks off and flips over in a spectacular way in Southern Patagonia, Chile. The ice-sheet of the Grey Glacier is currently declining due to increasing temperatures and changes in rainfall. It is part of the 'Southern Patagonian Ice Field', the world's 2nd largest contiguous extrapolar ice field and the largest freshwater reservoir in South America.

The Grey Glacier is famous for insane glacier wall collapses during the summer when large icebergs – often up to 100 feet in height – are breaking off the glacier and collapsing into the water of the 'Lago Grey'. In the right time of the year big blocks of ice break off the glacier and drop into the water. The waves created by such glacier calving events often splash dozens of meters through the air. The glacier itself is about 6 km (3.7 mi) wide and has an average height of over 30 m (100 ft) above the surface of the water.

Thankfully, no-one was injured as boats stay at a safe distance from the glacier (for a good reason).

© Laura Q. / LS

[smellyolegoat]

That was incredible. I especially loved how the ice was progressively more blue the deeper it was, and the more pressure it was under.

[campbellmorrison]

Love the last bit where you discover how deep this actually goes when the lower portion comes to the surface.

[jisu]

That dark blue from the ice being compressed over who knows how long is amazing. That deep blue is beautiful.

[henrent]

I find it so neat how blue that ice is. The part underwater was soo much bigger than I expected.

[PandoraKyss]

I am absolutely obsessed with the colors of the glacier ice. It's one of the most beautiful blue colors that I've seen.

[bethanybrookes]

I'm always amazed at how incredibly blue the ice is. Whenever I see glaciers and icebergs in animations or in photos, I always find myself doubting it, but then I see it in person or on a clearly unedited video and it amazes me.

[auraleamoore]

I was STUNNED when out of the depths came this gorgeous dark blue ice from the chunk (an equally beautiful light blue!) broke off of the glacier! AMAZING NATURE!

[kellypatterson]

Wow! I knew that a glacier was far deeper underwater than it was tall, but this really puts those proportions into perspective. Incredible footage!

[evonne]

It blows my mind just how huge a mass of ice that truly is, seeing the full depth of it come to the surface is unreal. Thank you for capturing this and sharing.

[geraldpatterson]

I could freaking kiss the one recording this for not "narrating" or screaming in this. Thank you!

[monicasalyer]

Thank you to whoever recorded this and allowed the event to simply unfold with no narration.

[mpgnz]

The sheer scale of the ice and the range of deep blue colours as it turns over makes it both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

[FredPlanatia]

it was windy, probably no steady surface underfoot, and you remained calm and filmed as this rare event unfolded, recording it and posting it for all of us to enjoy. It was beautiful, I can only imagine the awe of being there live, thankyou!

[rclddbv]

I was not expecting those hilly looking waves, or that dark blue piece to pop up. That was amazing! Great filming...and just the sound of the wind; perfect.

[cyclingbutterbean]

Nice capture! No talking. No repeated "oh my god, oh my god, oh my god". Just the wind and the spectacular moment forever captured in time.

[mhansl]

Very well recorded and presented.. no fast zooms or pans, no shaking, and most of all, no unnecessary music tracks. Oh, and the calving glacier... wow!

[Littlebit]

I’ve never seen such dark ice flip up. This was truly stunning to see. Well done nature and camera person!

[bochapman]

It’s always crazy to me how slow these things look, but if you’re close enough, you have no time to get out of the situation.

[burnieplace]

About 15 years ago I spent $145 on a guided walk on Grey Glacier, including crampons, ropes and harnesses. We were taken by a small boat to the glacier, on the far side where the ice met the rock, thought probably much further to the left given the retreat of the glacier face since then. Then we walked for probably a couple of hours, roped together before returning by boat. The blue of the ice where water channels cut into it was a blue I've never seen before or since. Probably the best $145 I ever spent.

[S.E.C-R]

This was beautiful, the changes in the blue colors as the water and ice mix were incredible from light to aqua to dark navy blue of the unexpected ice chunks that were popping up out of the water further away from the edge. The whole event was incredible, I can only imagine what it looked like in person!