The Cordillera Blanca is the world's most extensive tropical ice-covered mountain range.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning 200 kilometers in Peru, this range holds the largest concentration of ice in the country. It serves as a vital continental divide, feeding both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, while providing essential water and hydroelectric power to the region. Yet, its massive glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate.

The Cordillera Blanca, situated in the Ancash region of Peru, is a high-altitude marvel within the Andes. It is home to Huascarán, the nation's tallest peak, which reaches an elevation of 6,768 meters. The range is defined by its dramatic topography, featuring numerous summits exceeding 6,000 meters and a complex network of hundreds of glaciers. Since 1975, almost the entire range has been protected within Huascarán National Park, a sanctuary for diverse high-altitude flora and fauna, including the spectacled bear and the Andean condor.

Beyond its aesthetic grandeur, the range acts as a critical hydrological engine. Snowmelt from these mountains sustains northern Peru's water supply throughout the year, while the Santa River valley hosts hydroelectric infrastructure that generates 5% of the country's total power. The mountains also function as a continental divide: water on the western slopes flows toward the Pacific, while eastern runoff feeds the Marañón River, eventually reaching the Atlantic.

However, the range is undergoing a profound transformation. Climate change has triggered a significant retreat of its glacial ice. Records indicate that the area covered by permanent ice diminished by roughly one-third between the 1970s and 2006. While 722 glaciers were recognized in the region until the 1990s, satellite analysis from 2003 identified only 485 remaining. This rapid loss of ice cover poses long-term questions about the stability of the water resources that millions of people in the surrounding valleys rely upon for their daily survival and economic activity.

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