Junín de los Andes
This locality with a population of 8,000, was the first settlement in the
Province of Neuquén.
 For centuries it was the mandatory route between the chilean Araucania and
the argentine pampas. The Desert Conquest closed this cycle and founded on
February 15, 1883, the Junín de los Andes Fort in the Chimehuín
River Valley.
In 1892, Father Domingo Milanesio founds the Salesian Mission, thus beginning
the missionary crusade among the aborigines of the region. In 1894, the first
municipal council is installed and houses and stores are built around it thanks
to the auction of government plots.
At the beginning of this century Junín de los Andes becomes the
administrative and commercial center of the region. Cattle raising is
its main source of revenue.
Today, Junín de los Andes is a tourist center where you can find
several attractions and do a lot of activities and excursions.
It is surrounded by more than ten Mapuche communities, therefore the local
craftsmen walk is one of the most assorted and autochthonous of the region.
Here there is also an interesting Mapuche Museum.
 The Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Church is another must in
the city. It was finally opened in 1999 and it gives one of he
most beautiful examples of this rare mix of cultures that took place in many
areas of Patagonia: the Christian Religion and the Mapuche culture. It is
built mainly in regional wood and stone, and also a rare combination of glass
and vitreaux that gives it a magical ambience. There, you will find the remains
of the priest Domingo Milanesio and the relics of the Laura
Vicuña lay sister, a
local emblem.
Lanin Volcano is one of the main attractions of the area. You can climb the
north slope, this is called the "traditional route". It faces
Lake Tromen. In this tour there are three shelters and you can spend the night
in one of them.
 The other way to climb the volcano is reserved for experienced climbers only.
You go through the south slope, the one facing Lake Paimun. There is only
one shelter and for the last part of the way you need to have experience on
ice.
And of course, there is salmon fishing,
which has made Junín de los Andes a world known place: the "boca" (mouth)
of the Chimehuin River, the confluence
of river Curruhue and the Lakes
Corrridor. And so many other
places....
See Also: Touring the Lakes - Lanín National Park
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