Perito Moreno glacier experiences first major ice fall since 2008

Tourists wait to see the rupture of the leading edge of the Perito Moreno glacier near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, southern Argentina, March 2, 2012. As Perito Moreno moves forward, it cuts off a river feeding the lake. Water builds up pressure and slowly undermines the ice, forming a tunnel until ice comes tumbling down. The phenomenon repeats itself at irregular intervals, with the last major ice falls occurring in 2008. The glacier collapsed on March 4, 2012 after several large chunks broke off. Picture taken March 2, 2012. REUTERS/Andres Arce (ARGENTINA - Tags: ENVIRONMENT TRAVEL SOCIETY)STRINGER / Reuters

epa03132502 View of the Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, in southern Argentina, which completed it's break in the middle of a storm and when the darkness and rain conspired to frighten the hundreds of tourists waiting anxiously for the show, on 04 March 2012. The breakdown process, which began on 29 February, is caused by the pressure of water above the ice dam, which begins to crack to form an arch-shaped hole that ends up weakening and finally collapse. The natural phenomenon happens infrequently from once a year to less then once a decade. EPA/ARIEL MOLINAARIEL MOLINA / EPA

The Perito Moreno glacier is seen after the rupture of a massive ice wall near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, southern Argentina, March 4, 2012. The glacier, a massive tongue of ice in the Santa Cruz province that covers 250 square kilometres (97 square miles), advances yearly into a lake, known as Lago Argentino. As Perito Moreno moves forward, it cuts off a river feeding the lake. Water builds up pressure and slowly undermines the ice, forming a tunnel until ice comes tumbling down. The phenomenon repeats itself at irregular intervals, with the last major ice falls occurring in 2008. REUTERS/Andres Arce (ARGENTINA - Tags: ENVIRONMENT)STRINGER / Reuters

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