Estancia (a ranch) Cristina was founded in 1914 by Englishman Joseph Masters who came to Argentina, with his wife and young family, in search of gold but only found iron pyrites. His daughter, Cristina died at the age of 22 and the Estancia was named after her. His son had no children, so the Estancia became part of the Los Glaciares National Park. It can only be reached by boat across Lake Argentina – a two hour journey but in the days of the Masters much longer and therefore essentially cut off. Furthermore, the Masters would have not had the sonar equipment used by our boat to understand the underwater dimensions of the icebergs.
From the Estancia, Upsala Glacier can be reached by a combination of a precarious drive in a 4X4 and a hike. The track was opened up by scientists observing the glacier. We had lunch at the Estancia before the boat trip back across the lake, but it has a few cabins used by hikers and scientists.
Shilli-Fully Travels 