Rare moment spectacular ice bridge collapses in front of stunned tourists is caught on film in Argentina

Large chunk of Perito Moreno glacier in the southwest Santa Cruz Province came crashing down on Thursday
Patagonian glacier, known as the 'White Giant', sent impressive waves surging into the Lago Argentino lake as it fell
Around 4,000 people gathered to see the natural phenomenon, which last happened four years ago
Glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park measures 19 miles long and has a total area of 100 square miles
By Emily Chan For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 22:38 BST, 10 March 2016 | UPDATED: 22:39 BST, 10 March 2016
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This incredible footage shows the moment a spectacular ice bridge in Argentina collapsed in front of thousands of stunned tourists.

A large chunk of the Perito Moreno glacier, located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwest Santa Cruz Province, came crashing down into the water at around 11am local time earlier today.

The Patagonian glacier, known as the 'White Giant', sent impressive waves surging into the Lago Argentino lake as it fell.

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A large chunk of the Perito Moreno glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park came crashing down into the water earlier today +9
A large chunk of the Perito Moreno glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park came crashing down into the water earlier today

Around 4,000 people gathered at a nearby vantage point hoping to see the natural phenomenon, which last happened four years ago.

Spectators broke into applause as they witnessed the breathtaking moment that the arch, which measured 250 metres wide and 70 metres high, collapsed.

A video shows how small pieces of ice dropped into the water before the entire bridge collapsed inwards and crashed into the lake.

Around 700,000 tourists visit the park, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, every year +9
Around 700,000 tourists visit the park, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, every year

Small pieces of ice began to break off from the ice bridge into the Lago Argentino lake below +9
Small pieces of ice began to break off from the ice bridge into the Lago Argentino lake below

Ruptures occur every four to five years after the glacier forms a dam over the southern arm of the lake, with the last one happening in 2012 +9
Ruptures occur every four to five years after the glacier forms a dam over the southern arm of the lake, with the last one happening in 2012

The arch, which is estimated to be around 250 metres wide and 70 metres high, fell inwards from both sides in a spectacular fashion +9
The arch, which is estimated to be around 250 metres wide and 70 metres high, fell inwards from both sides in a spectacular fashion

The Perito Moreno glacier measures 19 miles long and has a total area of nearly 100 square miles.

Ruptures occur around every four to five years after the glacier forms a dam over the southern arm of the lake.

Water in the dammed section rises up to create pressure that eventually breaks through.

The Patagonian glacier, known as the 'White Giant', sent impressive waves surging into the lake as the ice bridge collapsed +9
The Patagonian glacier, known as the 'White Giant', sent impressive waves surging into the lake as the ice bridge collapsed

Spectators broke into applause after witnessing the natural phenomenon at the glacier, which is named after a 19th century explorer +9
Spectators broke into applause after witnessing the natural phenomenon at the glacier, which is named after a 19th century explorer

The imposing structure, near the town of El Calafate, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field shared with Chile +9
The imposing structure, near the town of El Calafate, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field shared with Chile

The imposing glacier, near the southern town of El Calafate, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field shared with Chile which is the third largest ice concentration in the world after the North and South Poles.

The largest glacier is the 31 mile-long and nearly five mile-wide Upsala Glacier, but the Perito Moreno glacier, named after a 19th century explorer, is the most famous.

Matilde Oviedo, spokeswoman for Los Glaciares National Park, said: 'It made a tremendous noise when it came down.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3486637/Perito-Moreno-glacier-s-ice-bridge-collapses-Argentina.html#ixzz5CIA83lZe
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