Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche is a major city in Argentina.

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

It is the largest city in its province. It is also the largest city in the Patagonian Andes. The city is the third largest in the entire Argentine Patagonia. It follows Neuquén and Comodoro Rivadavia in size. The urban zone has a low population density. It covers a large area that extends east to west.

Tourism is the main part of the local economy. Bariloche is the third most visited destination in Argentina. It follows only Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata. It is also the most popular city in all of Patagonia. Visitors come for the scenic natural setting. They visit the Nahuel Huapi National Park and other reserves.

In the winter, people go skiing at Cerro Catedral. This is the largest ski resort in South America.

In the summer, people enjoy water sports and hiking.

The city is a hub for student tourism. High school graduation trips are very common here. Families also visit to celebrate Quinceañera birthdays. In 2012, the Argentine Congress named it the "National Capital of Adventure Tourism."

Science and education are also very important here. The city hosts the Bariloche Atomic Centre. This is part of the National Atomic Energy Commission.

This center is used for scientific activities. The city also has several public universities. These include the University of Comahue and the University of Río Negro. The National Technological University also has a presence. These institutions help make the city a center for learning.

Indigenous people lived in this area for thousands of years. They arrived during the Neolithic era. The archaeological record shows the presence of the tehuelches and puelches. The name Bariloche comes from the Mapudungun word Vuriloche. This means "people from the other side of the mountain."

The Poya people used mountain passes to cross the Andes. They kept these routes secret from Spanish priests for a long time. Later, the Mapuche culture strongly affected the local groups. By the end of the 19th century, only a few indigenous families remained near the lake.

Spanish explorers reached the area in the 1500s. Francisco de Villagra explored east of the Andes in 1552. Later, the Jesuit priest Diego de Rosales reached Nahuel Huapi Lake in 1650. Other missionaries like Nicolás Mascardi founded missions in the area. One mission lasted from 1670 until 1673. Another mission was established in 1703 with financial help from Potosí. However, these early missions faced many challenges. One mission was destroyed in 1717 following a disagreement. Later, the Spanish Crown suppressed the Society of Jesus in 1767.

The modern city grew from a small trading post. In the 1881 border treaty, the area became part of Argentina. In 1894, Carlos Wiederhold crossed the Andes from Chile. He established a small shop called La Alemana in 1895.

This shop was the start of the modern settlement. At first, the economy relied on the cattle trade. Many Chilean merchants controlled the mountain passes. They exported meat and imported labor from the Chiloé Archipelago. By 1909, the population was only 1,250 people. The arrival of the railroad in 1934 changed everything. It connected Bariloche to Argentine markets.

In the 1930s, the city underwent a major redesign. Planners wanted it to look like a European alpine town. People sometimes call it "Little Switzerland." Many buildings were constructed using wood and stone. This gave the city a very distinctive architectural style. The Argentine Directorate of National Parks led many public works. They built the famous Civic Centre between 1935 and 1940.

The city grew from a cattle center into a cosmopolitan tourism hub. Hotel occupancy rose from 1,550 tourists in 1934 to 4,000 in 1940. The city remains a beautiful mix of nature and architecture.