Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Did You Know?
In 1985 the mummified remains of a
young boy dating to the Inca period
were found on the southwestern flank
of the mountain.
Las Cuevas , 10 miles beyond Puente del Inca,
is the final stop before passing through the tun-
nels to San Felipe, Chile. Towering over the
tunnel marking the border with Chile stands El
Cristo Redentor , Christ of the Andes. The
work of Argentine sculptor Mateo Alonso, who
cast the figure from the melted bronze of the
guns used by the Army of the Andes, this
impressive figure is a symbol of the brother-
hood between Argentina and Chile. It was dedi-
cated in 1902 and stands seven meters high (23
feet) on a granite pedestal (which adds another
six) and weighs in at four tons. At 650 meters
(2,132 feet) above Las Cuevas, the statue offers
an incredible view of the entire Mendoza River
Valley, Aconcagua, Tolosa and Chile. Follow
the signs for Los Caracoles to reach the top.
The Inscription
The inscription on the statue reads: “Se
desplomerán primero estas montañas antes
que chilenos y argentinos rompan la paz
jurada al pie del Cristo Redentor. ” (These
mountains will collapse before the Chileans
and Argentines break the peace sworn be-
tween them at the foot of Christ the Re-
deemer.)
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