Berny's photos

In the year 2000 it was still possible to walk over the bridge. To be honest, it was quite stupid to go so near to the edge, because the surface was slippery and slanting ;-) - scanned slide, Minolta X700

scanned slide, Minolta X700

"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

Abandoned facilities of the old "Transandine Railway", which connected Mendoza with Chile, here at the Estacion Puente del Inca (old sulphur baths). The summit in the far background is Cerro Caracoles (4465 m). - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Abandoned facilities of the old "Transandine Railway", which connected Mendoza with Chile, here at the Estacion Puente del Inca (old sulphur baths). The summit in the far left background is Cerro Quebrada Negra (4812 m). - scanned slide, Minolta X700

In 1965 one of many avalanches ended the dream of maintaining the thermal hotel in Puente del Inca (ruins in the background). The hotel had been a place of retreat and recreation since 1925. Thermal water was available in each room. The imposing Trasandino Railroad had a station in front of the hotel facilities (some remains in the foreground), which was reached from Mendoza after tunnels, mountains, viaducts and incredible landscapes. That avalanche of 1965 could not, however, destroy the colonial-style Chapel, small and built at the beginning of the 20th century. A first avalanche leaned on the walls of the chapel and served as a shelter for the much more powerful second avalanche, which devastated the hotel facilities. The chapel has been repaired by the army, it remained in operation until 2005. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

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