- Address: National Route 7 - Km 175 - Puente del Inca - Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina
- Height above sea level: 2719 m
- Width: 28 m
- Length: 48 m
- Thickness: 8 m
- Phone: +5 402 624-420-266
- Website: www.hosteriapdelinca.com.ar
Argentina is a unique piece of the South American continent, storing many amazing and picturesque, ancient and modern, natural and man-made wonders. One of them is in the valley of La Rioja, near the city of Mendoza . It is here over the river with the same name is located an unusual landmark of Argentina - the miraculous stone Inca Bridge. This phenomenon has long been forcing to stop, consider and admire unsurpassed beauty.
Legends of the appearance of the bridge
For a long time, many travelers are trying to solve the mystery of the natural origin of the bridge. There are several versions about the origin of the miraculous miracle. One of the traditions from Quechua time says that the Inca Bridge was created by the all-powerful Sun god for the sake of saving the life of the heir to the throne of the Incas. To heal a descendant from paralysis, it was necessary to cross the river and let him drink water from healing springs. The living bridge was built by the monarch's soldiers. Holding on to each other, they forever turned into stone, opening the way to medicinal water.
According to a more modern version it is believed that the Inca Bridge appeared as a result of the descent of avalanches and rockfalls. The chemical processes that took place with avalanche ice and snow formed the first layer above the Mendoza River. The second layer was laid with stones, dust and various rock fragments. The water layer melted over time, and the stone deposits were caked and gradually saturated with water from geothermal sources. So the arch of the natural bridge was formed. Hot water, when reacted with oxygen, left colored salts of salts.
The true miracle of nature
The Inca Bridge captivates tourists with its appearance. It consists of caked smooth stones of green and yellow color, which picturesquely splits water from thermal springs. There is a marvelous bridge at an altitude of 1719 m above sea level, its length is 47 m and its length is 28 m. The bridge is mostly 8 m thick. The thermal springs surround Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Champagne. It is believed that local geothermal waters have medicinal properties.
What is worth seeing?
The stone mystery of nature is in the village of Puente del Inka with a population of 150 people. In the early twentieth century. near the Bridge of the Incas was built a health resort, which has gained immense popularity. Later, a resort zone was formed here. Mountain avalanche, descended in 1986, turned the resort with all its buildings into a wasteland, leaving the dilapidated buildings. These ruins give the neighborhood a mysterious and unique view. On the site of the former resort, a small chapel survived, which only extreme people can see close to.
For a long time, the Inca Bridge served as a ferry from one side of the gorge to the other. The transport value of the object was lost with the appearance at the beginning of the 20th century. A bridge with a railway. Through the village of Puente Del Inka is the current Trans-Jordan railway track. In the building of the station station the mountaineering museum Museo del Andinista is now open, where tourists can get acquainted with the history of the Inca people, their customs and traditions, and also with the history of ascents to the Aconcagua mountain . From the bridge begins routes for climbers.
How to get to the Inca Bridge?
The city of Mendoza in the direction of Chile is the route RP52 and RN7. By car to the sights can be reached in an average of 3 hours. Everyday, except Wednesday, public transport goes here. The ticket for buses Nos. 094 and 401 at one end costs about $ 5.