It is the biggest ice mass of the south hemisphere, excluding the continental glaciers of the Antarctica. With a surface of 12.500 km2 (1995), extends in axis north-south for 350 kilometers among the Jorge Montt glacier, Fiordo Calén (48º 20’S), and the Balmaceda glacier, Última Esperanza Breast (51º 30’S). Their width varies among the 80 kilometers in the ´Meseta de Todas las Madres’ and 8 kilometers among the glacier García glacier and Hidden Lagoon, Fiord Andrew. Due to this strangulation, the icefield is divided in two big plateaus.

The north plateau has 250 kilometers between the Jorge Montt and García glaciers, while the south plateau has 100 kilometers among the García and Balmaceda glaciers. Both highlands are united by a denominated portezuelo ‘Chilean Corridor '.

Of the sport expeditions that have tried to cross it lengthwise, the only one world expedition that was successful it was the liderada for the medical Pablo Besser and compound by Rodrigo Fica, Mauricio Rojas and José Pedro Montt, of the German Andean clubs and of the Catholic University. After 98 days of expedition between October of 1998 and January of the one 2000.

The most important features in the north plateau constitute it the Mountain range of the Chaltel and the Paso de los Cuatro Glaciares, among others.

Visit the gallery of images of Southern Icefield.