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SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINA - RELEASED ON AUGUST 29, 2024 - EDITORIAL USE ONLY: Thunderous cracks echoed as Perito Moreno Glacier broke in Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz, Argentina on Thursday (Aug. 29). According to National Geographic, collapse begins when the melt from the glacier drains into a lake, which rises and eventually begins forming a tunnel through the glacier. It follows what's known as Archimedes's principle, local research center Glaciarium told the AFP in 2016. The Perito Moreno Glacier is renowned for periodically cutting off the southern arm of Lago Argentino, known as Brazo Rico, creating a natural ice dam. According to the NASA Earth Observatory, This phenomenon occurs as the glacier advances across the lake, reaching the opposite shoreline and preventing water from circulating between the lake's sections. As a result, the water level in Brazo Rico can rise by as much as 30 meters above the main body of Lago Argentino. NASA explained that the immense pressure from this water buildup eventually causes the ice dam to rupture, creating a spectacular natural event. This process repeats every four to five years. These repeated ruptures have made the Perito Moreno Glacier a major tourist attraction in the region. The Perito Moreno Glacier remains a testament to the dynamic natural forces at play in Patagonia, continuing to captivate and draw the attention of scientists and tourists alike. The property also provides fertile ground for scientific research on climate change. Los Glaciares National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. (Writing by Berkay Gur - Footage by Oguzhan Tiras-Yirtikpantalon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)