Despite
the lack of specific public development programs, three key economic
activities have gradually emerged thanks to its exceptional geological
assets: turism, mining industry and stockbreeding.
According to scientific studies and archaelogists, Potrerillos
witnessed human settlements back to 10.000 years BC. The name
of “Potrerillos” was given to the place because many
colts (“potros” in Spanish) used to live in the area.
Potrerillos used to be a small group of farms and agricultural
facilities, but after the railroad system reached it gained importance.
It then became a residential area, as well as an area of rest
for temporary residents, and a tourist resort.
The building of the dike forms an artificial lake that measures
12km in length and 3km wide. Villa Potrerillos, a earby locality
stands over 1,380 m. above the sea a level and it is used as a
starting turistic point to practice oudoors activities such as
hiking, rafting in the river, and paragliding, kayak, mountain
bike, hydrospeed, trekking, and horse riding.
Colores de Potrerillos |
Other
localities neighboring
Potrerillos
Aalso provide turists with adventure (Offering a
wide range of activities) such as in Las Vegas, Valle del Sol, El
Salto, Las Carditas, Piedras Blancas and Los Zorzales
Vallecitos
2.900 m. above the sea level and 80km away from Mendoza city, Vallecitos
is one of the best places to go to learn skiing y trekking. Many
mountain refuges, located at different stages of the mountain, endeavor
neophyte mountain climbers to start practicing this sport. This
is the right place to become acclimatized to the height, which is
an absolutely necessary exercise, when it comes to practising mountain
climbing like in the Aconcagua summit( 6.962 high).
In the beginning of the XX century, an important hotel was built
and it could only be reached by train. The resort was outstanding
at that time for its luxurious ornaments, staircases, its 147 bedrooms,
reading-rooms, game and music-rooms, so as for its chapel. Some
people even dared to compare it to the Titanic for it stood majestically,
like an oasis in the middle of desertic landscapes. During the wars,
European nobility and aristocracy used to stay in the resort to
enjoy and have a peaceful time in this hotel.
El Hotel Potrerillos, un clásico
La Villa de Potrerillos.
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Potrerillos
Lake
River
and mountains.
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Potrerillos
Dike
Alter 50 years of endless projects, the dike of Potrerillos was
eventually built. We had to wait until 2003 for Mendoza River to
have its waters regulated by this Dike.
Nowadays, the dike allows regulation for water supply, consumption,
land irrigation, hydroelectric production and the development of
a turistic resort based on nautical activities at such extend that
the World Windsurfing Championship is being organized to take place
this year on the Potrerillos Lake.
River Tupungato is the main tributary of Mendoza River and elevates
its flood thanks to River Plomo originating from the Glacier el
Plomo.
January the 10th 1934 is an eventful date for all mendocineans and
is associated to natural disaster as Mendoza suffered the most destructive
overflow ever. It destroyed partly the bridge of Cacheuta, the natural
baths and the electric powerplant. From 100m3/sec flood, it abruptly
passed to have 3.500m3/sec water devastating the entire surrounding
areas.
The Municipality of Luján de Cuyo has strongly worked on
territorial for this area, especially focusing on environment friendly
measures to avoid the negative effects that fast-track developement
could convey.
Nautical
sports in the Dike |
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