The Perito Moreno glacier, one of the world’s largest, is a popular tourist attraction in the southern Andes.

The prediction that a large chunk of it could break off at any time drew sightseers to Los Glaciares National Park from across South America.

There were cheers from the gathered crows as a huge wall of ice more than 165 feet (50 metres) long collapsed, making a tremendous noise.

A live Web cam was set up prior to the collapse, allowing millions of others to see it on the Internet.

“This is the first time the glacier has broken up in winter. It could be related to global warming as rising temperatures affect ice friction,” said park director Carlos Corvalan.

Large chunks of ice often break off the glacier into Lake Argentina during the southern summer months, but the appearance of a large fissure in mid-winter is unprecedented.

Photo: Government of Santa Cruz, Patagonia
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