LAS TORRES

It's one of Patagonia's most iconic photos, and when you first catch sight of the Torres, you quickly understand why these three majestic granite peaks gave their name to the national park. Voted by some polls as the ^8th wonder of the world, the Torres are true gems of nature. Respectively named Torre Norte, Torre Central and Torre Sur, these spires are as sublime as they are menacing, towering between 2,600 and 2,850 metres. Formed by violent tectonic activity 12 million years ago, the geological origin of these peaks is still complex to understand and the subject of much scientific research. However, the formation of the Torres can be explained by the intrusion of magma (in the Lago Grey region) into previously formed molten rock. The granite then crystallized, forming a rocky core ranging in color from gray to reddish. Each pulse of magma produced layers of granite several metres thick, gradually sculpting the landscape as we know it today. A sacred land for mountaineers, the three torres were the object of numerous attempts to climb them: it wasn't until 1963 that the English (and the Italians a few months later) conquered the summit of the Torre Sur. The path up to the three towers is relatively easy, but the last kilometer is particularly steep and strenuous! A final effort is required before the breathtaking panorama is revealed. The descent is then more rapid.