Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Home
  2. Bing Gallery
  3. United States
  4. 2020
  5. May 30
  6. Santa Cruz River, Patagonia, Argentina
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Santa Cruz River, Patagonia, Argentina

May 30, 2020

Santa Cruz River, Patagonia, Argentina

© Coolbiere Photograph/Getty Image

Meandering through Patagonia

Squiggling east from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, the mighty Santa Cruz River in Argentina's Patagonia region flows over some of South America's sparsest terrain. Over the centuries, some of history's most notable explorers have been drawn to the winding waterway: Ferdinand Magellan's 1520 expedition discovered its coastal delta, and Charles Darwin (on the same voyage that took him to the Galápagos Islands) studied the area's ecosystem during a grueling 1834 side trip up the river. Even now, very few settlements exist along the 240-mile course of the Santa Cruz, considered the last major free-flowing river in Patagonia.

The river's many U-shaped bends, called meanders, are carved out gradually: When flow pressure isn't equal on both banks of a river, erosion tends to warp small bends into dramatic, sweeping curves over long periods of time. But the prospect of much swifter change looms over the Santa Cruz: A controversial hydroelectric dam project already underway downstream will potentially have a drastic impact on the entire river's hydrology and ecosystem.

outdoor sky beach water lake nature landscape ocean thermokarst map shore wave sandy

Related Images

Mona Vale Rockpool, Sydney, AustraliaMona Vale Rockpool, Sydney, Australia
Tea garden at Yangjiatang Village, Songyang County, ChinaTea garden at Yangjiatang Village, Songyang County, China
Aerial view of Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, ThailandAerial view of Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, Thailand
Great Blue Hole, BelizeGreat Blue Hole, Belize
Fujian Tulou complex of historical and cultural heritage buildings in Fujian province, ChinaFujian Tulou complex of historical and cultural heritage buildings in Fujian province, China
Road to Hana, Maui, HawaiiRoad to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
Zelenci Nature Reserve, SloveniaZelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia
Porto Timoni beach, Corfu, GreecePorto Timoni beach, Corfu, Greece

Today on Bing

A stand of slash pines and sawgrass prairie, Everglades National Park, Florida

A stand of slash pines and sawgrass prairie, Everglades National Park, Florida

May 30, 2024
Playa del Amor in the Marietas Islands, off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Playa del Amor in the Marietas Islands, off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

May 30, 2023
Rainbow Pool and the field of stars in the World War II Memorial with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, Washington, DC

Rainbow Pool and the field of stars in the World War II Memorial with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, Washington, DC

May 30, 2022
California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp near the Channel Islands of California

California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp near the Channel Islands of California

May 30, 2021
42nd Street with the Chrysler Building during Manhattanhenge in 2018, New York City

42nd Street with the Chrysler Building during Manhattanhenge in 2018, New York City

May 30, 2019

Related Tags

map water aerial beach reef nature lake ocean painting landscape plant aqua blue tree island water sport wave text green broccoli
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.