Wine and Mountains - Mendoza

ENGLISH
The third stop of my trip was a stay in Mendoza, which lies between Cordoba and Santiago de Chile.

The province of Mendoza is well-placed for exploring the many wine-growing areas nearby, with 70% of all Argentine wine grown here, exploring the nearby Cañon del Atuel in San Rafael or exploring the Andes. The highest mountain in the Americas is very close. Unfortunately, I did not participate in the excursion because of the weather.

Mendoza capital is like a green oasis in the desert. After the city was destroyed by an earthquake, it was systematically rebuilt. The result was an irrigation system that directs meltwater from the Andes through the city so trees can grow. There are 5 parks in the city center, which are to serve as a collecting station during earthquakes. Since the city was built on the model of a human body, a large park was planted in the west of the city which acts as a 'lung'. Here in Mendoza, I realized for the first time that it's not spring but autumn. Even if the temperatures are still similar to those in Germany, yellow and red leaves are already falling on the road.

In general, Mendoza is in a two-fold, as the main industry is based on petroleum refining. Fracking gives rise to this industry but promotes earthquakes and needs water, which in turn is needed for viticulture.

After a 3h stay at a border crossing in the middle of the Andes, my journey continued to Santiago de Chile.

Hasta luego
Dory