Icebergs floating at San Rafael Lagoon, which is of proglacial origin, as it was formed by the retreat of the San Rafael glacier, at the head of the Northern Ice Fields. The glacier is approximately 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) high and 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, making it one of the largest glaciers in the area. This glacier has lost about 13% of its surface area in the last 140 years.

Like many glaciers around the world, the San Rafael Glacier has been affected by climate change, and it has been shrinking in size over the past few decades. This has led to concerns about the long-term viability of the glacier, as well as its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Aysén, Chile, 2022. 

Tamara Merino is based in Chile, is a National Geographic documentary photographer and visual storyteller who focuses on subterranean communities, identity, human rights, environment and climate change. For her latest and long-running project “Underland”, she has been documenting the - 60 million people - who live in caves around the world.

Follow Tamara on Instagram @tamaramerino_photography.