Updated: 17/10/2011 11:33 | By Charlotte Amelines, contributor, MSN Travel
30 natural marvels you’ve probably never heard of

Andean penitentes



Penitentes ice formations (Image © Art Wolfe/Getty)
Next
Previous
Previous3 of 30Next
Share this Gallery

Fields of ghostly icy figurines dominate certain plains of the high Andes, especially in Chile and Argentina. Known as penitentes (penitents), the eerily humanoid ice sculptures stand still as though in prayer. They are formed at altitudes above 4,000 metres when sunlight is reflected down into the ice blocks, causing variable melting patterns, and can reach heights of more than five metres.

0Comments
10 reasons to make MSN UK your homepage (© Microsoft)
Image Search for Andean penitentes on Bing
Image
Previous 1 of 1 Next
loading
See more results results by

More on msn Travel