The marble caverns of Cathedral de Mármol Caverns of white and black swirled rock rise out of
The marble caverns of Cathedral de MármolCaverns of white and black swirled rock rise out of the turquoise water of Lake General Carrera. These impressive rock formations (cathedrals) are made up of pure marble. Interestingly, the water constantly changes its appearance. In spring the water is turquoise, in summer the waters have the color of a glacier. The lake is fed by several rivers coming straight from Patagonian glaciers. The glaciers deposit small particles of rock into the rivers that gives the water its particularly blue color.The lake reached its present level 6200 years ago. Since marble is slightly soluble in water, solution causes the marble outcrops to form a network of strange rock formations, caves and columns. Tiny seeps of water are widening the pockmarked surface of the marble constantly creating new arches, cracks and holes. Eventually (in a couple of thousand years) the marble rocks will completely disappear from the lake.-OW-Image 1: http://bit.ly/2fze6bn. Image 2: Dan Lundberg: http://bit.ly/2hkbBez. Image 3: The incredibly icy blue water of Lake General Carrera. Courtesy of Felipe del Valle Batella.References:http://bit.ly/2h9SL9xhttp://bit.ly/29EF7I7 -- source link
#geology#chile#argentina#marble#erosion#limestone#glacier#water#nature#landscape#mountain#patagonia