THE ANDES IN MENDOZA: THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
To see the photos that illustrate this note, please click here:
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=119&tid=512&webtag=ab-...Although tours in Mendoza are more expensive than in other parts of Argentina (a full-day tour costs here 18 dollars, while in Bariloche, Còrdoba or Mar del Plata you would spend 10 to 12 dollars for the same tour), the highest mountains of the American continent are here. For example, the Aconcagua is higher than the Mc Kinley, and its height is about 23,000 feet.
The tour starts in the city of Mendoza, goes through vineyards, and then through Chacras de Coria, a beautiful residential area; the next photo shows the Catholic chapel of this area:
PHOTO: Chacras de Coria Roman Catholic chapel
After passing in front of the Lujan de Cuyo oil refinery (Mendoza is an important oil and gas producing province) we pass by the Potrerillos reservoir.
PHOTO
At this point and looking towards the mountainside, we can see some agriculture terraces of the Inca empire (yes, the Incas came as south as Mendoza in Argentina!; actually, the main irrigation channel Cacique Guaymallen was built by them, and is still in use)
PHOTO; Terraces of the Inca Empire.
The road goes through many tunnels, and we border the Mendoza river for many miles, while we remember that this was the area where two important movies were filmed: Seven years in Tibet and Taras Bulba.
PHOTO: Mendoza River
After having travelled some sixty miles from the city of Mendoza, we reach the valley of Uspallata, an oasis in the middle of the desert. The village has five thousand inhabitants and is some 6,600 feet above sea level. Hotels are not quite so expensive here, and it is a very nice place to relax.
PHOTO: Valley of Uspallata
Some twelve miles after Uspallata we reach the historial bridge of Picheuta, which has to do with the history of the Independence of Chile and Peru, since one of the divisions of the army of General San Martin went though here.
PHOTO: Historical bridge of Picheuta. It is really a reconstruction of the original bridge, constructed by the army of General San Martin on its way to Chile.
In all this high mountain area it is posible to fish rainbow trout, although in this area they are not large. Larger trout are caught in Southern Mendoza in rivers Atuel and Grande.
PHOTO
Our next destination is Puente del Inca, a natural bridge over the De las Vacas River. Here we prefer to show to wonderful variety of colors in the mountain, although the bridge is also interesting.
PHOTO: At Puente del Inca there is an artisans fare: you can see a partial view of it in the next photo.
PHOTO:
Then we arrive at Punta de Vacas, where there is an interesting mini-museum, the owner seems to be a blend of a hermit and a hippie... but has an excellent knowledge of the subjects he refers to. Of course, he explains everything in Spanish, from the origin of the Andes, the Army of the Andes, energy, the history of the Huarpes indians, etc. Below are the tracks of the former Transandean railway, that no longer operates...
PHOTO: Punta de Vacas. The railway to Chile came through here.
We are leaving the Penitentes ski center and the Aconcagua provincial park for our next note.
Enjoy it.
Regards from Mar del Plata.
Robert Ingledew
Índice
Páginas: 
