Torres del Paine National Park: Geography and Geology

Take one quick look at Torres del Paine National Park and you’ll realize just how unique and beautiful its geography is. From vast valleys to icy glaciers to the magnificent Paine Towers that gave the park its name, Torres del Paine truly has it all. You can explore and enjoy these stunning Patagonian landscapes on a multiday hike or on a day trip.

Torres del Paine National Park:  let's take a closer look at everything you can't miss

The Paine Massif

The most famous image of the Torres del Paine National Park is the breathtaking Paine Massif and its three jagged granite Towers. This mountain group, also known as the Cordillera del Paine, dominates much of the landscape in the park. The Paine massif is part of the Andes Mountains. However, it is an independent and different mountain formation.

"Paine" means blue in the language of the Tehuelche people language, one of the indigenous groups in Patagonia. It would refer to the bluish color of the granite when viewed from a distance. 

Scientists can date the origin of the Paine massif back to at least 12 million years ago. During this time, geological forces lifted up sedimentary layers of the earth, and glaciers later eroded them. The hard, resistant granite rock that we see today remained. It's an example of this natural process, clearly demonstrating the difference in color between sedimentary and granite rock. 

Several specific mountains make up the Paine Massif, each offering something beautiful and unique. You can see these major mountains.

• Cerro Paine Grande (Big Paine Mountain): 3,050 m. 
• Cerro Paine Chico (Small Paine Mountain): 2,650 m.
• Torres del Paine (the Paine Towers): These are the most famous mountains in the park, made up of three peaks. The South Tower is 2,500 m, the Central Tower is 2,460 m and the North Tower is 2,260 m tall. You can reach the towers' base viewpoint by hiking through the Ascencio Valley on a full-day hike. 
  
  
• Cerro Fortaleza (Fort Hill): 3,000 m.
• Cerro Catedral (Cathedral Hill): 2,220 m.
• Cerro Negro and Los Mezillos (Black Hill and the Twins): 2,450 m.
• Cerro Escudo (Shield Hill): 2,700 m.
• Cuernos del Paine (Paine Horns): This is one of the viewpoints that can seen from the famous French Valley trek. The Horns are: 2,600 m (central), 2,400 m (north) and 2,400 m (east).
  

The three Paine Towers.

Cuernos del Paine.

Glaciers

Torres del Paine and Patagonia region are full of massive, icy glaciers! The glaciers to see are: 

• Grey Glacier (270 square km)
• Dickson Glacier (71 square km)
• Tyndall Glacier (331 square km)

They make up some of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and its outflow. The Southern Patagonian Ice Field is the second-largest ice field in the world, consisting of more than 12,000 square km. It is part of the former "Patagonian ice sheet," which is still left from the last glacial period. 

Chile contains the majority of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Approximately 15% of it is in Argentina. Scientists rank this massive ice sheet as the second largest in the world. The other ones are Antarctica and Greenland, spanning 350 kilometers.

Sadly, the area is diminishing year by year. Climate change is pushing this process. Glaciers are melting, and sea levels are rising. 

Grey Glacier.

Lakes

Within Torres del Paine National Park, there are various large lakes making up 90 square km of surface area. Each lake is different, but many have a strong turquoise color to them.

This intense coloring is due to rock flour particles that are left from glacial erosion. They make the water appear milky.

Some of the well known lakes include:

• Grey Lake receives water from Grey Glacier. Ice blocks from the glacier sometimes float on this lake. It covers up to 32.6 square km.
• Nordenskjöld Lake is 28 square-meter lake and runs into Lake Pehoe through Salto Grande. Otto Nordenskjöld, a European explorer and geographer, discovered it in the 20th century. 
• Pehoe Lake receives water from the Paine River and flows through Salto Grande.  You cross it to hike in the French Valley. 
• Dickson Lake is another glacially-fed lake. It drains into the Paine River. 
• Sarmiento Lake has a surface area of 90 square km and goes as deep as 315 meters.
• Del Toro Lake: Only a small portion of this giant lake is in the national park. In total it 202 square km in size and up to 300 meters deep. The waters of the Toro Lake eventually flow into the fjords of Puerto Natales to the ocean.
  

Nordenskjöld Lake.

Pehoe Lake.

Waterfalls

There are three major waterfalls in Torres del Paine.

• Paine Waterfall takes the name of the park. You can find these waterfall on the Paine River between Blue and Amarga Lagoons.
• Salto Grande translates to “Great Falls,” as it reaches a height of 65 meters.
• Salto Chico means “Small Falls” and lies between the southern tip of Pehoe Lake and Toro Lake. 

The waterfalls are small in comparison to places like Iguazu or Niagara Falls. However, they offer something special to the landscape in Torres del Paine. Many travelers enjoy viewing these waterfalls and admiring all its incredible natural surroundings.

Salto Grande.

Rivers

Various rivers run through the park, connecting all the magnificent land masses. Four major rivers are worth seeing: 

• Paine River: The source of this river is Dickson lake, a glacially-fed lake. Paine River runs through various bodies of water, including Paine Lake, Nordenskjöld Lake and Pehoe Lake. Finally, it reaches Del Toro Lake.
• Grey River: Like the Paine River, the Grey River is also glacially-fed and is an outflow of Grey Lake. In total, it is about 20km until it eventually merges with the Serrano River. 
• Serrano River receives water from the Grey River and flows into Last Hope Sound.
• Pingo River also runs into Serrano. 
  

Serrano River.

In 1978, UNESCO acknowledged Torres del Paine National Park as a Biosphere Reserve. This means that it is internationally recognized as an ecosystem. It can be used for scientific research to protect the environment.

This biosphere reserve consists of three parts:

• The central area contributes to the long-term conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation.
• The buffer zone where people carry out activities compatible with good ecological practices. This area can contribute to research.
• The outer area where multiple parties work together to manage resources sustainably. Agricultural activities and settlements are possible here. 

The rugged lanscapes of the area offer diverse ecosystems that makes this place a paradise for wildlife. Torres del Paine has the highest density of pumas in the world. And birdwatchers will find a high level of endemism with plenty of fascinating species.

If you're looking for an epic experience, you can combine mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding and kayaking on an epic multisport adventure!

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