The Humboldt Current

In Chile's Torres del Paine, melt from snow-covered mountains feeds finger-like fjords as they reach out to the sea to join the current, lowering its salinity. Rivers, estuaries, and wetlands are home to many wading birds, and the countless inlets and bays are magnets for rare dolphins and orcas.

The Humboldt Current is slower than most ocean currents, but it’s the most dynamic in the world because it travels for such a long distance. Upwelling from the deepest trenches brings nutrients to the surface, allowing phytoplankton to bloom, laying the foundation for an intricate marine food chain

The current is followed by a unique population of Chilean blue whales and is the last refuge for other extremely rare marine mammals. From the chill of its deepest depths to the wind on its highest cliffs, the current creates unusual habitats and is a study in survival.