Puente del Inca - 2744 m

"Puente del Inca" is a natural arch that forms a bridge over the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. While the bridge has shown signs of deterioration, it remains stable under its weight under present conditions. In the early 20th century, there was a large thermal resort and monastery that used the hot sulphur springs to cure certain illnesses. There was a railway station, which is still standing, and tourists arrived by train to the resort. The spa was tucked into the side of the cliff, almost underneath the natural bridge. Spring floods, landslides and avalanches destroyed the buildings and the bridge is now closed for foot traffic. Not in 2000, when we still could walk over the bridge. - panorama of 2 scanned slides, Minolta X700 - see PiP