The High Andes

From Andes

This outing took us on the route that links Mendoza to Santiago in Chile, through the Andes. The road replaced an earlier rail link that has now fallen into disuse, as the traveling time via rail was 16 hours, compared to the 6 hours it now takes by road. For much of its length, it follows the Mendoza river that feeds glacial melt water to irrigate the vineyards in the Mendoza region and provide a substantial part of the city's water supply (there is hardly any annual rainfall in the desert that surrounds Mendoza.)
The final destination for this trip was the top of a mountain where Argentina borders Chile. At 3760 meters, this summit was high enough to make you out of breath after only very mild exertion, but it provided a stunning view of the Andes range in all directions. On our route we were able to catch a glimpse of Aconcagua, which at just under 7000 meters is the highest mountain in the whole of the Americas. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the view of the summit was somewhat obscured by clouds.


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Location:Mendoza