Bariloche, Mountain resort region in Rio Negro Province, Argentina
Bariloche is a city in the department of Bariloche in Río Negro Province, sitting on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi and surrounded by Andean peaks and deep forests. The city center runs along the lakefront, while residential areas and ski slopes climb the hillsides behind it.
The settlement grew in the late 19th century when German-Chilean traders began to settle on the lakeshore, and Carlos Wiederhold opened one of the first stores in 1902. Swiss immigrants arrived shortly after and shaped the look of the growing town.
The wooden chalets and stone facades that line the streets come from Central European settlers who brought their building traditions to the Andes. This style is so deeply rooted that even newer buildings often follow similar shapes.
The city is accessible year-round, with summer drawing visitors for hiking and winter for skiing at Cerro Catedral. Having your own vehicle makes it easier to explore the surroundings, though local buses reach many spots around the lake.
On the edge of the city sits the Centro Atómico Bariloche, a nuclear research center that also houses the Instituto Balseiro, one of the most respected technical universities in South America. Most visitors pass through without realizing that this research campus sits right next to the hiking trails and ski slopes.
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