Photographer Portrays Puma Chilling on an Iceberg That Broke Off Glacier in Mountains of Patagonia

(Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

The pumas inhabiting glacier-rich Patagonia are well-adapted to cold weather and have even been known to swim across Argentino Lake.

This prospect led to a scene of stunning contrasts for photographer Luis Alejandro Acharez when he crossed paths with a puma relaxing on an iceberg floating in Los Glaciares National Park. With the big cat’s handsome looks set before the aquamarine hues of the ice high in the mountains of Argentina, it’s hard to tell what’s more beautiful.

Mr. Acharez photographs nature and captured a host of dazzling shots on this particular excursion in July 2021. The region, located in the southwest of Santa Cruz province on the border with Chile, is home to an amazing variety of wildlife.

A puma photographed on an iceberg that broke off Upsala Glacier in Argentino Lake taken by Luis Alejandro Acharez in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina. (Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

A puma chills on an iceberg in Argentino Lake in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina. (Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

It was afternoon and Mr. Acharez, 46, was on assignment documenting the Spegazzini, Upsala, and Perito Moreno Glaciers when the catamaran they were in received a radio call. “All of a sudden, another boat told us that they saw a puma at the entrance to the Upsala channel,” Mr. Acharez told The Epoch Times.

One of South America’s largest icebergs, the Upsala Glacier covers an area of over 330 square miles (870 square kilometers) and, with its jagged peaks, has an otherworldly appearance.

“The Upsala channel usually has many icebergs due to the nature of the Upsala Glacier, whose front is very large—almost four kilometers [2.48 miles],“ Mr. Acharez said. ”When it breaks, the icebergs that break off the front are huge, larger than the two-story boat.”

A lone puma on an iceberg in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, captured by Luis Alejandro Acharez. (Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

(Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

(Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

Approaching the iceberg area, some 50 tourists plus crew spotted the handsome puma lying on an ice floe. Immediately, the professional photographer began snapping with his Canon 6D Mark II. Unsurprisingly, after getting home and sharing the results online, the pictures generated a big buzz.

“The repercussion of the images has been truly remarkable,“ Mr. Acharez said. ”That same afternoon, I had tons of messages, my followers increased exponentially, and there was a lot of national and international media attention.”

(Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

(Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

(Left) A recent portrait of the photographer; (Right) Luis Alejandro Acharez and sightseers aboard a catamaran touring the icebergs in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina. (Courtesy of Luis Alejandro Acharez)

Originally from the Patagonian city of Trelew, founded by Welsh settlers, Acharez worked as a sailor for many years before devoting himself to photography. Now a tourist photographer, authorized by the National Park, he believes more animals than usual may be seen as sailing has resumed post-pandemic.

A 2010 study by biologists using GPS tracking technology obtained concrete evidence of a long-distance swimming male puma foraging in Chilean Patagonia, on Lago Cochrane. There have also been anecdotal accounts of pumas swimming in Venezuela, Arizona, the Colorado River, and the Everglades. In 1932, an observer reported seeing a puma climb into a boat along Brazil’s Orinoco River, apparently hoping to hitch a ride.

Share your stories with us at [email protected], and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter