National Route 40 (Argentina)

The Ruta Nacional 40 (Cabo Virgenes in Río Gallegos - Ciénagas de Paicone, Province of Jujuy ) with 5224 km, the longest national highway in Argentina and one of the longest highways in the world; it is - next to the Pan-American Highway, the most famous highway in the South American continent, which is why their tourist importance. It crosses the entire western Argentina, with the exception of the island of Tierra del Fuego from south to north. She leads from sea level through the steppe landscape of Patagonia past the large sheep pastures of the pampas and the wine growing region to the high mountains of the Andes.

The road is despite several improvements in the last 30 years of the 20th century passable on some sections only with all-terrain vehicles, which makes their subjugation to a special challenge for adventure tourists. It crosses among others, one of the highest motorable road passes in the world, the Abra el Acay (about 4950 m) and passes through very diverse landscapes and climates. In case of bad weather ( heavy rain, snow melt) and in the winter, some sections can be quickly impassable. Therefore, the road is well maintained. On all sections are permanent construction crews to the improvement and preservation in use. In general, these are graders who clear the road (sand, water, snow) and just hold. Due to the extremely different conditions on the Route 40, the road is also often used as a test track by automobile manufacturers.

Course from south to north

The road traversed in its course several major regions: the humid western Patagonia, the Cuyo, the Sierras Pampeanas, the high valleys of the central Andes and the Puna.

The exact course of the road has been amended several times. By 2005 it was administratively from two different streets, the Ruta 40 Norte and the Ruta 40 Sur. On 20 May 2005 it was agreed that the provincial roads RP are listed on the National Road Network 85, 70, 74, 7, 64, 65 and 5 from 2006 in order to ensure the expansion of the road for the supply of the local mines. The relevant sections of these provincial roads were thus assigned to the Ruta 40. Thus, the course of the road has been moved to the province of Jujuy to the west, and the total length significantly enhanced so that it no longer La Quiaca, but the Bolivian border near the village of Ciénagas de Paicone is the official end of the road.

Patagonia

The road begins at the lighthouse from Cabo Virgenes ( Jungfrauenkap ) on the Atlantic coast of Río Gallegos ( Santa Cruz Province ). First heads to Rio Gallegos and then parallel to the former freight line west to the mining town of Río Turbio, then further north to the border with Chile at Cerro Castillo. From there it leads north- east to the Estancia Tapi Aike ( branch of the FP7 by Esperanza ) and impinges at El Cerrito on the RP 5, a well-developed alternative route that leads directly to Rio Gallegos. Next to El Calafate in the Los Glaciares National Park it crosses the Río Santa Cruz and results in wavy lines northward. Until the turn of the RP 23, which leads to El Chalten to the northern part of Los Glaciares National Park, it has a great tourist importance. We continue on Tres Lagos to Perito Moreno. About 40 km after the city she enters the province of Chubut, where she leads on Río Mayo, Alto Río Senguer and Gobernador Costa up to Esquel.

In February 2009, announced that Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, that the road in the province of Santa Cruz will be fully provided with a blacktop within a few years. The work is now well underway, so that now large parts are paved: From Punta Loyola to Río Gallegos (35 km ) and on to Güer Aike ( branch of the paved RP 5 to El Calafate; 25 km), the section between Rio Turbio and Estancia Tapi Aike (82 km), the section between El Cerrito (linking the RP 5 of Río Gallegos ) on the entire route to Tres Lagos (198 km), and then again from Riera through to Nueva Lubecka - Esquel, the rest is gravel road in varying condition. The asphalting between Tres Lagos and Lake Castiel ( Phase I ), Bajo Caracoles and between the Rio Ecker ( Phase II ) and between the Lago Cardiel and Riera and between Las Horquetas Bajo Caracoles and ( construction phase III) is under construction. Between Riera and the Rio plug the paving is completed, but the new road not yet officially released ( again rubble heap on the asphalt). In addition, there are several road sections more developed alternative routes (especially the paved RP 5 from Rio Gallegos to El Calafate and the paved connection between El Cerrito and the Estancia Tapi Aike on the RP and the RP 5 7 via Esperanza ).

After Esquel followed by a short paved and well-developed road section to the north, branches in Leleque then north-west, the main route Ruta Nacional 258 to Bariloche from. The Route 40 runs east parallel to this road as a gravel road. Only from the border with the province of Neuquen she is paved again, here it becomes a busy highway. You through Zapala and Chos Malal by the Voranden. In Barrancas it crosses the Río Colorado, which forms the border with the province of Mendoza. From there, poorer road (asphalt residues) to Malargüe.

Cuyo

In the region of Cuyo westargentinischen the road is best developed and most traveled. From south to north initially leads her on a barren plateau to Malargüe before them widely to the big city of San Rafael passes (completely paved up to the section El Sosneado to Paredita, this section is usually on the parallel and paved roads RN 144 and RN 143 bypass ). Then she enters the Gran Mendoza conurbation. There it is expanded highway-like over a length of 50 km.

The paved road will then continue north through the metropolitan area of San Juan. She drives around San José de Jáchal and crosses west of the National Park Ischigualasto the border with the province of La Rioja.

Sierras Pampeanas

In the further course, which leads through the dry mountain ranges of the Sierras Pampeanas, the road is also well developed. You pervades Chilecito, an important tourist center, and will cruise at Salicas the border with the province of Catamarca.

In Catamarca, the road is paved up Belén. After a poorly -developed, geschottertes section to the Valle Calchaquí, a high valley of the Voranden begins. North of Belén is located near the road since 1997, one of the largest copper mines in the world ( open pit ), Bajo de la Alumbrera which, in addition, also gold is mined.

Valle Calchaquí

In Santa María del Yocavil the road meets a major cross-connection to the east, to San Miguel de Tucumán. Here they crossed the border with the province of Tucumán and leads - now asphalted again - further north to the Ruins of Quilmes over to the border to Salta.

With Cafayate, the road crosses now one of the tourist centers of the region. The further course through the Valle Calchaquí is marked by a colorful, dry landscape and small colonial towns such as Torremolinos and Cachi. From San Carlos to Cachi Dirt Road.

Abra el Acay

Behind the small village of La Poma, the road condition deteriorated rapidly, the route is from here often only with all-terrain vehicles and in winter usually not passable. There, the Valle Calchaquí stops, it starts the climb to the Abra el Acay, one of the highest road passes in the world (about 4950 m high ) formed by landslides, debris flows, rockfall, etc. is not rare at times impassable. In the pass, the road condition improved again, and the gravel road winds down to San Antonio de los Cobres, the. Despite their only 3500 inhabitants largest city in the southern Puna region

Puna

In San Antonio de los Cobres the road crosses the railway line of the tren a las nubes, a tourist train that reaches up to an altitude of 4200 m. The Road ( Dirt Road ) continues at the salt lakes Salinas Grandes and Laguna Guayatayoc past in a northerly direction.

The final piece, which was amended in 2006 by the course here, bears the name Corredor Minero, as it leads past numerous mines. The dirt road ends at the Bolivian border, near the town of Villazón.