Berny's photos

Los Penitentes (ca. 2600 m altitude) is a ski resort in Argentina about 25 km off Paso de Libertadores, which marks the border between Argentina and Chile, and 180 km from Mendoza Capital City, at the foot of Mount Aconcagua on Ruta 7. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

scanned slide, Minolta X700

Ruta Nacional 7 leads through a wild rough landscape and is joining Argentina and Chile with its highest point, the Paso de Upsallata. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

HFF and a colorful weekend everyone!

The transandine route of the Belgrano railway crosses the river "Rio Mendoza". Unfortunately the railway is out of service (seen from Ruta 7, situated in the rocky slopes to the right). The Transandine Railway (Spanish: Ferrocarril Trasandino) was a 1000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge combined rack and adhesion railway which operated from Mendoza in Argentina, across the Andes mountain range via the Uspallata Pass (3176 m), to Santa Rosa de Los Andes in Chile, a distance of 248 km. The railway has been out of service since 1984, and has been partly dismantled. There has been talk about restoring the railway, but there is currently no indication of any restorative work underway. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

The transandine route of the Belgrano railway crosses the river "Rio Mendoza". Unfortunately the railway is out of service (seen from Ruta 7). - scanned slide, Minolta X700

The next area we visited, is the valley of Rio Mendoza, on the road "Carretera Libertador General San Martin", the Ruta Nacional 7, up to the 3832 m high "Paso de Upsallata" as highest point. Fantastic views to the summit of Acongagua are waiting for us. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

The lower part of the valley is wide and the river meanders freely around. - scanned slide, Minolta X700.

On a clear day near Upsallata, Province Mendoza, Argentina. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Silver and zince mining from the 18th century in Upsallata, north of Mendoza. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Driving south on Ruta 149, heading to Upsallata, Province Mendoza, Argentina. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Driving south on Ruta 149, heading to Upsallata, Province Mendoza, Argentina. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Another more simple "Difunta Correa shrine" at Ruta 149 (see PiP for one at Ruta 40). People mainly pray to survive on the lonesome roads and deposit water bottles, tires and another trash, believing, this helps not to die of thurst in the wilderness. Difunta Correa (the late Correa, actually María Antonia Deolinda y Correa) was a woman who allegedly died of thirst in 1841 while looking for her husband in the desert of Argentina. However, thanks to the mother's milk, her child had not died. It has been found laying suckling on the dead mother's breast. scanned slide, Minolta X700

Doubtless this car is more appropriate than our Kangoo was, here on Ruta 149, Province Mendoza. There are paved sections, but with such deep and dangerous potholes, that cars and trucks often use the space outside the pavement (see PiP), which is actually better driveable, except you miss a crossing culvert inlet. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Looking East from Ruta 149 to the "foothills" of Andes, which quickly rise to an altitude above 5000 m. The highest peak there is Cerro del Tambillo, 5651 m. Province Mendoza, Argentina - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Vineyards near the village of Tamberias, Province San Juan, Argentina scanned slide, Minolta X700

Valley of Rio Los Patos, Ruta 149. Rio Los Patos from the south and Rio Castano from the north are joining to the Rio Juan, which we were following in the series of Argentina images before. - scanned slide, Minolta X700