Bariloche

For many Argentinians Bariloche is heaven on earth. Even they haven't been there yet. Certainly looks great.

San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, situated on the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by lakes (Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Lake and Mascardi Lake) and mountains (Tronador, Cerro Catedral, Cerro López). It is famous for skiing but also great for sight-seeing, water sports, trekking and climbing. Cerro Catedral is one of the most important ski centers in South America.

The name Bariloche comes from the Mapuche word Vuriloche meaning "people from behind the mountain" (furi = behind, che = people). The Vuriloche pass was used by the Mapuches to cross the Andes and was kept secret from the European priests for a long time.

Settled primarily by Austrians and Germans about 1895, it was first named after pioneer Carlos Wiederhold, who established a little shop near the present city centre after crossing the Andes from Chile. In letters addressed to him, he was erroneously addressed San Carlos instead of Don Carlos, which is why the city was called San Carlos de Bariloche. The city has the appearance of an alpine town, and a population of 93,600 (2001 census [INDEC], 1991: 77,600).

Bariloche was officially founded on 3rd. May, 1902, by a decree of the Executive Branch of the National Government. In 1909 there were 1,250 inhabitants, telegraph, post office, and a road connecting the city with Neuquén. Commerce, however, continued to depend on Chile until the arrival of the railroad in 1934.

Between 1935 and 1940, the Directorate of National Parks carried over a number of urbanistic works, giving the city a characteristic beauty. Among them: the Civic Center (home of a Library, a Theatre, a Museum, the City Hall, the Post Office, the Police Station and the Customs), the Cathedral, Llao Llao Hotel, and others.

Tourism, both national and international, is the main economical activity of Bariloche, all year around. The main ski station is the one at Cerro Catedral. During the summer, beautiful beaches such as Playa Bonita and Villa Tacul welcome sun-bathers and some brave lake swimmers (the waters, from melting snow, are always very cold. Lake Nahuel Huapi averages 14 °C in the summertime). The fishing season is another great attraction. Bariloche is the biggest city of a huge Lakes District, and serves as a base for many excursions in the region. Trekking in the mountains, almost completely wild and uninhabited with the exception of a few high-mountain huts, is also a popular activity. The city is also famous for its chocolates.

Besides tourism and the many activities and services associated with it, Bariloche is home of first class scientific and technological activities. The Centro Atómico Bariloche [1] is a research center of the National Atomic Energy Commission, where basic and applied research in many areas of the physical sciences is carried on. One of its departments is the Instituto Balseiro [2], a higher education institution with a small and carefully selected number of students, that awards degrees in Physics, and in Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering, and Masters and Doctorate degrees in Physics and in Engineering. The city also hosts INVAP, a high technology company that designs and builds nuclear reactors and space satellites, among other projects. In addition, there are also several departments and laboratories of the Comahue University.

The city has a modern airport equipped to receive any kind of aircraft. Several of the most important airlines of Argentina maintain regular flights to Bariloche, as well as some international lines from neighboring countries, especially during the ski season.

The city lies close to Chilean border and it is connected to Chile by the Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass that crosses the Andes Mountains.

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