Take A Dream Walk Through The Marble Cathedral In Chile
The Marble Cathedral is a national monument of Chile that in recent years has become a real tourist attraction thanks to its undoubted beauty. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about it. Do you dare to delve into the depths of a magical place? We promise you will not be disappointed.
The Marble Cathedral , an authentic natural wonder
Imagine a cathedral made entirely of marble and in whose creation there was no human intervention of any kind. Also imagine that you are in a privileged natural environment. Well, this description fits perfectly with the Marble Cathedral, whose characteristics we will see below.
Well, the Marble Cathedral is a group of small islets, characterized by their rocks streaked with whitish-bluish tones. In these the brightness of the turquoise water of the lake in which they are reflected is reflected. The result is a show of great beauty for those visitors who venture inside.
The rocks of which the islets are composed are marbles originating no less than three hundred million years ago. More specifically, during the Upper Paleozoic.
Along with this natural wonder, we should also highlight the Marble Chapel and the Marble Caverns. All are calcium carbonate formations found on the shores of Lake General Carrera. This, which is the largest in Chile, is of glacial origin and is surrounded by the Andes mountain range, in Patagonia.
Regarding the origin of this unique place, it is due to the combination of the erosion of the cold and windy climate with the dissolution of the limestones, which occurred about fifteen thousand years ago during the Pleistocene. It was then that there was a rise in the water level, as well as the different formations that we have just talked about.
Practical information to visit the Marble Cathedral
If the waters of the lake on which the Marble Cathedral rises are at a low level, they can be navigated in a small boat. In this way, visitors see first-hand the small islets and the deep cavities that make up the space that occupies us.
Boat trips start from Puerto Río Tranquilo, the main town in the sector, belonging to the municipality of Río Ibáñez, although the journey can also be started from Puerto Sánchez. However, access to the latter is somewhat more difficult and, therefore, less recommended.
Some advices
The departure point chosen is chosen, daily departures are made until six in the afternoon and it is recommended to always wear warm clothing, because the speed of the boat, as well as the cold and humidity of the place, can be somewhat annoying.
Another important aspect that should be known when visiting the Marble Cathedral is the best time to move to the place. Well, it is viable throughout the year except for the summer, because, as we have seen previously, as it is a glacial lake, it reaches its maximum level in the summer period.
And one more recommendation: you cannot forget the camera or the mobile phone charged to capture the beauty of the Marble Cathedral in numerous snapshots. It is an absolutely fascinating phenomenon of nature.
What to see and do near the Marble Cathedral
In addition to the Marble Cathedral, the Marble Chapel and the Marble Caverns, that is to say, visiting the well-known Sanctuary of Nature Capilla de Mármol, you can take advantage of it to learn more about the towns from which excursions usually depart, as Puerto Río Tranquilo.
Puerto Río Tranquilo offers, among other things, the possibility of enjoying the local gastronomy while having magnificent views of the lake . It is equally advisable to move to the Laguna San Rafael National Park or to various easily accessible glaciers that are in the vicinity.
