Barreal, human settlement in Argentina
Barreal is a small town in the Calingasta Department of San Juan province, Argentina, sitting on the right bank of the Los Patos River. It lies in a wide valley at around 1,500 ft (1,500 m) elevation, flanked by high Andean peaks, including Cerro Mercedario.
In the early 19th century, General San Martin led his army through this valley as part of his campaign to cross the Andes and free Chile and Peru from Spanish rule. The route through the surrounding mountains was a key passage during the South American independence movement.
The name Barreal refers to the white clay soil of the nearby dry lakebed, which turns into a mirror-like surface after rain. Visitors who come at the right time of year can witness this natural effect, which makes the ground look like a shallow lake.
Barreal is reached by driving along Ruta Nacional 40 from San Juan, though the final stretches of road can be narrow and winding. For those without a car, a daily bus runs from San Juan, and the town offers several accommodation options from cabins to small hotels.
The Pampa del Leoncito, a dry lakebed near the town, is used for land sailing, where riders sit in low carts fitted with sails and race across the hard clay surface. The strong north winds that sweep through the area make it one of the few places in the world where this sport is practiced regularly.
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