Altiplano

George Steinmetz

National Geographic Magazine

'Nieves penitentes' or penitente ice at approx. 19,000 ft on east side of Volcan Pomerape. This unusual ice form is found primarily in the high-altitude deserts of the Andes and Himalaya. It gets its name from the spiky form resembling hands held together in form of prayer, and is caused by a combination of melting and sublimation (ice evaporating without intermediate phase of water). In the background are peaks just north of Pomerape that form part of the border between Chile and Bolivia. The elevation of permanent snow cover on these Andean peaks has been rising dramamtically in the past few decades due to accelerated climatic change.

George Steinmetz, "Altiplano," in POYi Archive, Item #41861, http://archive.poy.org/items/show/41861 (accessed November 22, 2024).