In the northwest of Santa Cruz, where rivers are born from the thaw and the Patagonian mountain range becomes rugged, rises the Cerro San Lorenzo, the highest peak in the province at 3,706 meters above sea level.
This binational colossus, shared between Argentina and Chile, holds a secret that few know: in 2023, a team of documentarians from National Geographic discovered thermal water wells at the foot of its main glacier.
A challenging access between steppes and glaciers
From the Argentine side, access to San Lorenzo is through Lago Posadas, following Route 40 and then gravel roads that border the Oro River. The journey transforms the landscape: the steppe opens into valleys, lenga forests appear, imposing glaciers, and finally the snowy summit that dominates the horizon.
The discovery of the thermal waters occurred during the filming of the documentary Planeta Salvaje Argentina, directed by Cristian Dimitrus. Attracted by stories from local residents, the team traveled the Oro River valley in 4×4 vehicles and walked to the base of the glacier. There, in front of the eternal ice, they found hot springs emerging from the subsoil.
“It is something very unique, something that deserves to be preserved,” said Dimitrus, surprised by the contrast between the icy waters of glacial origin and the thermal wells that emerge a few meters away.
Between ice and fire: the geological explanation
The phenomenon is explained by the tectonic structure of the Andes. The plates that make up the mountain range collide and slide, creating fissures that allow water to come into contact with the Earth’s internal layers. That residual heat causes the water to emerge hot on the surface.
In southern Patagonia, where volcanic activity is scarce, the discovery makes San Lorenzo an exceptional case. The natural hot springs are evidence of the latent energy beneath the Earth’s crust, a reminder that the Earth remains alive even in the coldest confines.
An extreme and fragile territory
The base of the mountain offers a landscape frozen in time: glacial moraines, crystal-clear rivers, and lengas twisted by the wind. Access, however, is complex and requires crossing mountain paths, river crossings, and high-difficulty hikes.
This rugged condition has preserved the purity of the environment, making it a place of great scientific and tourist interest. The discovery of thermal waters raises the need to protect the ecosystem, as the province of Santa Cruz has begun to survey areas with geothermal potential to harness clean energy. The San Lorenzo area is among the priority observation areas.
Environmental and tourist value
The discovery sparks multiple perspectives:
- Scientific interest: studying the interaction between glaciers and thermal waters in an extreme environment.
- Energy potential: exploring the use of geothermal resources as a source of renewable energy.
- Nature tourism: offering unique experiences in a landscape that combines eternal ice and hot springs.
- Environmental conservation: ensuring that tourism or energy development does not affect the fragility of the ecosystem.
The Cerro San Lorenzo continues to crown the Patagonian horizon with its main glacier and steep slopes. Now, in addition to the deep silence that allows one to hear the ice, there is the murmur of hot water emerging among the stones.
The discovery of thermal waters turns this giant into a symbol of the duality of nature: ice and fire coexisting at the same point, reminding us that even in the coldest corners of the planet, the Earth holds secrets that are yet to be discovered and preserved.
