The circuit could be expanded to become the Nine Lakes Promenade; who can resist?
SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE.– The iconic Seven Lakes Route, which began construction in 1973 and was finally paved 10 years ago, could now be expanded to become the Nine Lakes Promenade. This was announced by the Neuquén government, which plans key works on the access road to Villa Meliquina.
Following the announcements, visitors will be able to continue enjoying the journey that connects lakes Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machónico, and add lakes Meliquina and Lolog to the trip.
“We’re breaking old paradigms. This time, it won’t be the Seven Lakes Route; it’ll be the Eight Lakes Walk, because we’re incorporating Meliquina Lake. And if we look at it from San Martín de los Andes, we’re also going to incorporate another paved walkway, Lake Lolog, so we can now talk about the Nine Lakes Walk,” said Governor Rolando Figueroa.
Last week, the president signed the contract with the company that will begin paving Provincial Route No. 63. As indicated by the Neuquén government, this road corridor “will be key to safely and efficiently connecting towns in southern Neuquén, such as Villa Meliquina, and will boost the tourism, productive, and social development of the entire region.”
The construction period is 720 days for the section from National Route 40 —on the Seven Lakes Route between San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura—to kilometre 20, including the urban crossing of Villa Meliquina. This town was founded in 1977 and today has approximately 400 permanent residents, a number that typically triples during the summer season.
The Villa Lago Meliquina Civil Association warns that there are no services of any kind there: “That’s why residents are looking for environmentally friendly ways to provide them. Water comes from springs, alternative sources like wind and solar are used for electricity, and our heating is wood-fired. Villa Meliquina also doesn’t have waste collection, so residents are incorporating environmentally friendly methods of waste reduction such as composting, carefully separating waste, and taking all recoverable waste to the recycling centres in San Martín de los Andes.”
The project to pave access to the village has clashed in recent months with a group of residents who opposed it (and even filed an injunction to halt the work), and another group that expressed its support. They cited the extreme vulnerability of not having basic services, as well as the difficulties posed by the current gravel road. They also emphasised that the paving will help recover some of the tourist traffic connecting Meliquina with Bariloche, which has stopped using Route 63 in recent years.
“Imagine what it will mean to reach Meliquina with a paved road. It changes the region’s tourism landscape. Before, everyone only talked about the Seven Lakes Route. Today, we’re already discussing Meliquina, the Mamuil Malal border crossing, and many other connections that are transforming the tourism landscape. There’s no better tourism promotion than a paved road,” said San Martín de los Andes Mayor Carlos Saloniti. In fact, the future Nine Lakes Promenade could include Lake Traful in the future, as there is a plan to secure a paved road that would connect Villa Traful with the current Seven Lakes Route.
Recently, Figueroa also committed to paving part of Provincial Route 62 on the way to Lake Lolog, located 12 km from San Martín de los Andes. This includes 5 kilometres, gabion walls, and other works on the section extending from the current completion of paving in the Rincón Radales area, bordering Laguna Rosales, to Lake Lolog, passing over the Quilquihue River bridge.
In addition to the roadworks and strategic routes, the Minister of Tourism of Neuquén, Gustavo Fernández Capiet, referred to the bidding and awarding of the Cerro Chapelco ski resort and center: “This process has to do with the transition to the post-Vaca Muerta era, and allows us to project a tourism development that accompanies a change in the productive matrix, promoting production, clean energy, technology and tourism as fundamental axes.”
He added that there are currently around 10,000 tourist beds between San Martín and Junín de los Andes, and that the plan is to double that capacity over the next 25 years. Regarding the change in the concession at Chapelco, Fernández Capiet emphasised that the number of daily skiers is expected to increase from 4,500 to 15,000.
The new circuit
Correntoso Lake
Located 85 km from San Martín de los Andes, this is the largest body of water on the Seven Lakes Route and the first in a south-north direction. Very close to the city of Villa La Angostura, it connects with Lake Nahuel Huapi, forming the Correntoso River, considered the shortest in the world and a paradise for sport fishing.
Mirror Lake
With calm waters, sheltered from the wind, and ample dimensions, its viewing platforms offer splendid panoramic views. Located 12 kilometres from Villa La Angostura, it is ideal for water sports and recreation.
Hidden Lake
This small lake is characterised by its green hues, standing out among the coihue forest. Nearby, the route descends to Pichi Traful, which is not the northern arm of Lake Traful.
Villarino Lake
A small river connects it to Lake Falkner; they are separated by a narrow isthmus. Villarino is located about 50 kilometres from San Martín de los Andes and is surrounded by a coihue forest and mountain ranges.
Falkner Lake
Its wide sandy beaches extend along the path. Sheltered from the wind, it’s popular with tourists travelling the seven lakes, as it’s located practically halfway along the route, and also with locals as a picnic spot.
Beautiful Lake
You have to take a two-kilometre detour along a gravel road to discover this body of water, whose banks shelter one of the last remaining stands of araucaria trees in Lanín National Park. At the headwaters of the Hermoso River, a waterfall is easily accessible.
Machónico Lake
Located 30 kilometres from San Martín de los Andes, its waters are deep blue. The shores of this lake are inaccessible. A large viewing platform allows you to stop your vehicle and admire its magnificence.
Meliquina Lake
It is part of the route that, through Paso Córdoba, provides access to the confluence of the Limay and Traful rivers, as well as passing by the Caleufu River and Lake Filo Hua Hum. Around Lake Meliquina, the differences between the native forest and the established pine forest are readily apparent.
Lake Lolog
From Villa Lolog, you can access Playa Bonita, a natural resort with a wide beach and shallow waters, on one side, and the Quilquihue River, an excellent fishing spot, on the other. Bordering the lake, Puerto Arturo is nearby, home to the park ranger station and a camping area.
Source: La Nacion
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