Lago Greve, Chile Early Season Calving Activity in 2026

Lago Greve in Sentinel image from 10-16-2026 indicating recent calving activity at Lautaro Glacier and Lago Crego

Lago Geve is a proglacial lake on the western margin of the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap that several glacier terminate in; Greve Glacier, Lautaro Glacier, HPS-8 Glacier and Pio XI Glacier. This is one of the largest proglacial lakes in the world with an area of ~190 km2. The lake drains through an outlet river on the northwest shore of the lake. Erosion of the oulet channel did lead to a signfnificant decline in lake level and lake area (~14 km2) in 2020 (Hata et al 2022). Any GLOF from this lake does not pose a hazard do the remoteness of the lake and the fjord it feeds. The lake level has been static since this event. The outlet river enters the fjord near the retreating Occidental Glacier.

Lago Greve outlet before and after the outlet erosion event in 2020 that led to lake level decline. Arrow indicates former outlet, while Point A and B indicate new land that resulted.

In 2026 the terminus tongue of Lautaro Glacier calved, and area of 1.5 km2, littering the ice front area with icebergs (upper yellow arrow). Lake Crego is an ice-dammed lake impounded by Pio XI Glacier, that has also calved significantly in 2026, helping fille the lake with ice bergs (lower yellow arrow)

Lago Greve in Sentinel image from 10-18-2018 indicating Lautaro Glacier before terminus tongue calved and lake outlet changed.