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Bariloche

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Bariloche is a large and important city in Argentina.

bariloche1
bariloche1

It sits in the Río Negro province within the Patagonian Andes. The city lies on the southern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake.

Nahuel Huapi Lake captured from Cerro Otto's top in summer
Nahuel Huapi Lake captured from Cerro Otto's top in summer

It is the largest city in its province. It is also the largest city in the Patagonian Andes.

Bariloche oeste
Bariloche oeste

Many people visit this area to see the beautiful natural scenery. The city is very close to the border with Chile.

Many different activities happen in Bariloche throughout the year. In the winter, people go to Cerro Catedral to ski.

15 - San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina)
15 - San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina)

This is the largest ski resort in South America. In the summer, visitors enjoy hiking and water sports.

bariloche1
bariloche1

People can also explore the Nahuel Huapi National Park. The Argentine Congress even named it the "National Capital of Adventure Tourism" in 2012.

Bariloche view
Bariloche view

It is the third most visited place in all of Argentina.

Long ago, people lived near the lake for thousands of years.

Bariloche, Argentina (1916)
Bariloche, Argentina (1916)

Indigenous groups like the Poya, Puelche, and Tehuelches lived there. The name Bariloche comes from the Mapuche word Vuriloche. This means "people from the other side of the mountain."

Bariloche, Argentina (1916)
Bariloche, Argentina (1916)

Spanish explorers visited the area in the 1500s. Later, Jesuit priests tried to start missions near the lake. These early groups used mountain passes to travel across the Andes.

Modern Bariloche grew from a small shop called La Alemana.

Bariloche, Argentina (1916)
Bariloche, Argentina (1916)

A man named Carlos Wiederhold opened this shop in 1895. At first, the area was mostly used for cattle trade. Many people came from Chile to work and trade there. By 1909, the city had about 1,250 people.

Bariloche, Argentina (1916)
Bariloche, Argentina (1916)

Later, a railroad arrived in 1934 to connect the city to other markets. This helped the city grow much faster.

The city has a very special look for its buildings.

Centro Civico Bariloche W2013
Centro Civico Bariloche W2013

In the 1930s, planners wanted it to look like a European town. They used lots of wood and stone for the structures. This style is sometimes called "Little Switzerland."

Centro Civico Bariloche W2013
Centro Civico Bariloche W2013

Today, Bariloche is also a place for science and learning. It has the Bariloche Atomic Centre for energy research.

RA6cab
RA6cab

It also has several public universities for students to attend.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Bariloche, Argentina (1916).jpg
Bariloche, Argentina (1916).jpg
File:Centro Civico Bariloche W2013.jpg
Centro Civico Bariloche W2013.jpg
File:Catedral de San Carlos de Bariloche.JPG
Catedral de San Carlos de Bariloche.JPG
File:Bariloche oeste.jpg
Bariloche oeste.jpg
File:Argentina - Bariloche trekking 012 - Glacier Castaño Overo spilling water and ice over the cliff on Cerro Tronador (6834286802).jpg
Argentina - Bariloche trekking 012 -...
File:15 - San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina).jpg
15 - San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina).jpg
File:RA6cab.jpg
RA6cab.jpg
File:Bariloche view.jpg
Bariloche view.jpg
File:bariloche1.jpg
bariloche1.jpg
File:Nahuel Huapi Lake captured from Cerro Otto's top in summer.jpg
Nahuel Huapi Lake captured from Cerro...
File:Basecat.JPG
Basecat.JPG
File:Mapillary (vcRDhlWpOomaHJdUGVw39L) (martinvilu) 2023-01-11 12H57M43S710.jpg
Mapillary (vcRDhlWpOomaHJdUGVw39L)...

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