The Raid World Championships
A True Wilderness
28.11.2004
Neuquén is a Mapuche term (the language spoken by Patagonia’s first inhabitants) that means lofty and impetuous, understandably pertinent terms that perfectly reflect the varying geography of the region. It is dominated by the immense Andes mountain range, the vast plains that stretch out across the Lanin national park, strewn with forests of bamboo and araucarias and, as centre-piece, the Lanin volcano itself (3,775m, destined to be climbed by the teams.
Tucked into the heart of Patagonia, Argentina, this province invites visitors to plunge into a rich and diverse nature, often remote and fascinating. Neuquén combines the wildest and most arid features of the Argentinean steppe with magnificent forests and lakes, surrounded by a luxuriant vegetation.
In 1937, the creation of the Lanin National Park transformed the region’s economy. The ban on felling certain trees along with the protection of some lakes caused several villages, previously dependant on agriculture and cattle rearing, to entirely disappear.
The arrival of boats on the lakes, the proximity of snow laden mountains, and the construction of roads worthy of the name led to the creation of the first winter sports resort at Cerro Chapelco. A thriving tourist industry was born which, since the 70’s, has provided an economic vitality to the region and, at the same time, enabled the indigenous populations to continue to live, as before, in harmony with the great outdoors.
And it’s this great outdoors the teams are about to explore.
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