Study Reveals Chile Lost 344,000 Hectares of Glaciers Over 28 Years

Original article: Estudio revela que Chile perdió 344 mil hectáreas de glaciares en 28 años

A recent study conducted by MapBiomas Agua, utilizing satellite images captured between 1998 and 2025, has shown that Chile has lost an area of glaciers equivalent to 21 times that of Easter Island. The Ñuble region has been hit the hardest, with a staggering 91% reduction in its glacial coverage.

Additionally, the research indicates that Chile has seen a decrease of almost 40,000 hectares of surface water since the onset of the mega-drought.

«Glaciers are perennial ice masses formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow, flowing slowly due to gravity. They can take various forms, including exposed, covered, rocky, hanging, valley, or mountain glaciers, and they provide water to different regions of the country. In this context, Chile holds nearly 80% of the Andean glaciers, whose behavior significantly impacts freshwater availability amid a scenario of mega-drought and climate crisis,» explained the research team.

Thus, the MapBiomas Agua initiative reconstructs the evolution of glaciers year by year across the four macro-zones of the country—north, central, south, and austral—offering a publicly accessible dataset created with a standardized methodology for all of Chile.

This time, the data reveals distinct dynamics based on regional differences.

In the far north and the austral macro-zone, which hosts the largest glacial reserves in Chile, including the Northern and Southern Ice Fields, the retreat is more gradual. In contrast, central regions, such as Ñuble, have experienced a much higher proportional loss, particularly since the mid-2010s.

The study also documents exceptional cases, such as the Pío XI glacier in the austral region, which has shown a sustained advance of its fronts, contrasting with the general trend of retreat observed across the nation.

«Glaciers are incredibly important because they provide a continuous flow of water to river basins, especially during summer and drought periods, when water is most needed,» stated glacier specialist Alexis Segovia.

«We use this water for a variety of industrial and domestic activities; most tap water comes from glaciers, particularly during the summer. Glaciers also serve as tourist attractions and create connections with communities living near mountainous areas. If glaciers continue to retreat or disappear, all these activities and the relationship between glaciers and society will be weakened or diminished due to the retreat of these ice bodies,» the expert warned.

Significant Surface Area

On another note, the surface water in Chile totals 1,228,652 hectares, which is equivalent to 14 times the area of Lake Llanquihue.

Furthermore, the results indicate significant retreat due to the mega-drought: Chile has lost almost 40,000 hectares of surface water since this phenomenon began.

«The surface water in Chile is heavily concentrated in the southern part of the country. The austral macro-zone encompasses nearly 60% of the total surface area, followed by the southern macro-zone with approximately 35%. Together, these regions account for around 95% of the country’s water surface area. In contrast, the central and northern macro-zones represent only about 3% and 2%, respectively, highlighting a marked territorial concentration of this resource,» the study indicates.

Valeria Castro, a member of the MapBiomas technical team, added that «surface water in lakes, lagoons, reservoirs, fjords, rivers, and other areas varies over time, even within the same year, due to seasonal effects occurring in the territory, which can be pronounced in certain areas of the country.»

«These bodies of water are sensitive indicators of drought, flooding, and even changes in land use within the territory. Their monitoring allows us to assess the water security of the area and detect early environmental changes,» the researcher emphasized.

Summary of Key Findings

• Total National Loss: Between 1998 and 2025, Chile lost 344,278 hectares of glacier area, decreasing from 2,342,851 ha to 1,998,573 ha. This loss is equivalent to 21 times the surface area of Easter Island.
• Ñuble, the Most Affected Region: It has recorded a 91% loss of its glacier area over 28 years.
• Magallanes, with the Largest Absolute Decrease: It lost more than 1,000 km² of ice during this period, although it, along with Aysén, contains 95.2% of the country’s remaining glacial surface.
• The Metropolitan Region has lost 48% of its glacier area in 28 years, despite holding, along with O’Higgins, less than 2% of the country’s ice.
• The Central Macro-Zone from Valparaíso to Maule shows the highest proportional retreat in the country, having lost 50.19% of its glacier area since 1998.
• The study also identified the river basins with the largest and smallest glacier areas in the country, providing crucial information for water management and territorial planning in light of the climate crisis.
• Retreat Due to Mega-Drought: Chile has lost almost 40,000 hectares of surface water since this phenomenon began.
• Current Extent: In 2025, Chile has 1,228,652 hectares of surface water, equivalent to 1.62% of the national territory and 14 times the area of Lake Llanquihue.