Chilean Patagonia leading among “The best travel photos 2022” by NatGeo

National Geographic, the US specialized media in scientific research, nature, and culture, made a selection of the 17 best photos registered worldwide this 2022, two of them belonging to the south of Chile, these aim to raise awareness among humanity.

The Chilean photographer Tamara Merino, a member of National Geographic(NatGeo)’s explorer contributor network, is the author of these impressive images of Chilean Patagonia. These were chosen among “the best travel photos 2022” published by the US  media.

Chilean Patagonia is described as one of the few places on Earth that still keeps its unspoiled and untamed nature not only for its extensive Ice Fields but also for its unpredictable weather. Chilean Patagonia is turning into a scientific spot par excellence mainly because of the conditions it offers when studying the effects of the climate crisis on our planet. Due to this, it is seen as a global sensor of climate change.

National Geographic, along with us, have been exploring the maximum possible amount of Chilean glaciers to document the impact of global warming on them and their imminent retreat. According to Tamara Merino, National Geographic’s photographer, Chile counts on the largest surface of glaciers in South America; 63 % of its ice is in Patagonia.

Over the last ten months, NatGeo’s documentary team has made audiovisual recordings of the last wild frontier with endemic flora and fauna. Throughout this process, they have also been able to share with professionals who devote themselves to studying the everlasting ice of this zone day after day, facing extreme weather conditions.

Merino Says, “In this zone, there is a group of Chilean glaciologists and worldwide climbers who do incredible research by obtaining data on the retreat of glaciers day by day through meteorological stations installed by them on different glaciers in the Northern and Southern Ice Fields; where they gather invaluable information for humanity. These glaciologists spend several days on the glaciers, sleep in shelters at more than 1000 meters high and take the risk of getting stuck for weeks”.

Diverse Chilean institutions focused on the study, protection, and spreading of natural conservation zones have supported this documentation process to bring people closer to the importance of protecting these resources. "The management to achieve these records has been astonishing." Chilean entities have done their best for us to reach these places; it would have been impossible to accomplish this project without them.

One of these entities is Imagen de Chile, with whom we traveled for the first time to the Northern Ice Fields, Laguna San Rafael, and other glaciers this year. CONAF and DGA have also supported us with essential assistance; they have accompanied us with their experts on diverse travels and provided us with critical information to perform our work. Tamara concludes, "All in all, this is a project full of edges and truly valued by all entities and organizations, which grants a unique value".

If you are interested in this or more destinations, we invite you to visit NatGeo and wonder with the 17 best travel photos of 2022.

Source:  El Heraldo Austral