RIO TURBIO

Located in the south-west tip of Santa Cruz province, 173 miles away from Gallegos River along Provincial Route N°253 and National Route N°40, we find the little border town of Rio Turbio. With barely 8,000 inhabitants, it is the third most populated city in the Province and a mining center covered with coal and mistery.

On the way to Rio Turbio, travellers will be able to appreciate the peculiar Patagonian landscape: a tabular plateau covered with transverse rivers, which are not very mighty and generally flow from west to east.

In addition, along the road, one may cross the singular railway used by the "Trochita" Train, which is historically famed for its services to the local mining industry.

Rio Turbio is a good choice for those who decide to go from El Calafate to Chile to visit Torres del Paine National Park. The city lays over slopes under which rest more than 750 million tons of coal, the largest national reserve.

Nonetheless, during winter, the mining town gives way to an outstanding winter sports center, providing everything ski fans and snow lovers may dream fit.

The city is 9k m away from the frontier with Chile. The weather is typical from the Andes: cold with accentuated snow falls during winter and snow accumulations of 0.50m.

During winter, travellers can enjoy the ski runs of "Mina 1", which offers equipment rental, cafés and lighting in all the runs. In the summer, travelers may go fishing to the nearby rivers and lagoons, such as the "Siete Saltos" cascade, close to "San José" dam, "Primavera" valley, the vantage points and "Puente de Piedra" (Stone Bridge).

Local Festivities:
January 25: International Folklore Festival.
First Weekend in August: Provincial Snow Festival. December 4: National Coal Festival; Saint Barbara's Day and Miner's Day.
December 14: Rio Turbio's Anniversary.

SKIING IN VADELEN
Just 4 km from Rio Turbio, visitors can visit "Mina 1", the international border crossing which connects Rio Turbio with the city of Puerto Natales in Chile. In the zone, people can value beautiful "lenga" forests, encircled by majestic hills and steep gullies.

There, visitors will find an integration and leisure center: "Vadelén" Winter Sports Center ("Valle de Lengas"), where they will be able to rehearse either Alpine or Nordic skiing in its three different runs, suitable for beginner and advanced skiers and for slalom competitions.

In Vadelén, you will have the opportunity to ski in one of the smallest areas in South America. One of which has night-time lightning to practice during night time.

One of these appealing runs is 500 m long and has a slope of 19°, which lets the athlete keep the snow (fine-dust-like) from April to September.
The other runs have slopes of 38° and a length of 250 m; they are appropriate for beginners as well as for advanced skiers. The total skiing surface adds up to 100 hectares and the utmost height is of 850 m.

You can get to the top of the run by ski-lift or double elevator, rising to a height of 1000 m and with a capacity to carry 400 skiers per hour.

It is important to bear in mind that it is forbidden to get away from the signaled circuits, since it is dangerously difficult to move around the copious "lenga" forest.

In "Mina 1", travellers can also rest at the Municipal hostel, offering shelter in its cabin-like building for tourists and delegations who visit this quiet region in order to enjoy the numerous activities offered there.

THE SOUTHERNMOST TRAIN IN THE WORLD
The industrial branch-line Rio Turbio is a real historical and cultural patrimony. The slow, but lengthy narrow-gauge trains with as many as 60 wagons connect this mining and tourist center near the Andes with the port of Río Gallegos in Argentinean Sea.

The train, which crosses narrow gauges, is pulled by of diesel engines. Until 1997, steam engines were used, but currently they are kept in the company's warehouses and only two of them have any chance or recovery.

Both the railroads and the engines are both for the restricted use of the company's concessionaire.