Polvorilla viaduct, Railway bridge in San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina.
Polvorilla viaduct is a steel bridge in the Argentine Andes that spans 224 meters and rises 63 meters above a valley. The structure rests on six massive pillars and crosses the landscape at an elevation of around 4,200 meters.
The bridge was built in Italy during the 1930s and opened in 1939 to complete the railway line through the Andes. It was part of a major effort to connect remote mountain regions with the rest of the country.
The train route crossing this bridge shows how people built transportation networks through difficult Andean terrain. The train that runs here still connects remote mountain villages and shapes the region's character today.
Access to the bridge is only by train departing from Salta city, with regular service depending on weather conditions. It is wise to book the journey in advance and bring warm clothing, as it gets cold at this elevation.
The viaduct ranks among the world's highest railway bridges and towers above many landmarks across the Americas. For visitors, traveling over the bridge itself becomes unforgettable because of the dizzying height and the open view of the Andean landscape beneath the wheels.
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