This region is formed by the departments of San Rafael, Malargüe and General Alvear.
In its 87,000 kilometres, there are various landscapes, vegetation and even climates. Based on its economic activities, the south region can be divided into two. On the one hand, General Alvear and San Rafael, with an agricultural-industrial production, concentrated on the crop of vines, olive trees, fruit trees, vegetables, and the associated industries, as well as reforestation with poplars. On the other hand, Malargüe, with mine production, oil extraction, goat breeding farms and very important tourist exploitation. Its typical cuisine consists of goat on the embers, calf with leather, goat cheese, and sopaipillas.
The cultural calendar of the South Region consists mainly of:
Provincial Party of Tourism, in the second half of May
National Festival of the Arid Zones and Exhibition Fair of Mendocino Calf. In the Department of General Alvear, there are 5 days of folk celebrations, Creole dexterity exhibitions, typical meals, dances, fires, among other activities: Intercolleges Olympic Games in the Agrarian Technical School associated to the UNC (National University of Cuyo). In General Alvear, students from different parts of the country and also from Chile gather to participate in sports competitions.
In the second half of January, the National Festival of the Goat takes place in the Department of Malargüe. There are 3 days with music, typical food and wines from Mendoza.
SAN RAFAEL
This is the second most important city in the province of Mendoza. It has an extraordinary landscape. In this department, there is most important Natural History Museum of the province. The Huarpe Culture is still present in the crafts, where it keeps the colours and designs that are multiplied in the wefts and pottery. The Diamante River, demonstrates the origin of its name by the glow of its impetuous waters, which find calmness in the immense reservoirs, which work not only as an energy resource, but also provides places to rest and to practice aquatic sports. The unique formations of the Valle Grande and the Canón del Atuel, from the Las Tinajas ranch, perhaps there can be understood through the indigenous hieroglyphics or by riding through its land.
San Rafael is one of the two main junctions of connectivity in the province, considering it has paved routes to the four cardinal points and also has an airport.
MALARGÜE
Has beautiful scenery, mainly because of the Cordillera and the Atuel River. This is a department that invites you to enjoy its warm temperatures between snowy peaks, and its distant hills that seem to be nearby. At its high mountains, there is the largest and most exclusive winter resort in Las Leñas, and white sports lovers almost take it as an obligation to visit Malargüe.
There are four Protected Areas: La Payunia, Llancanelo, Castillos de Pincheira and the Caverna de las Brujas.
In La Payunia, the guanacos inhabit the slopes of the hills in Laguna Llancanelo. Swans and flamingos show off their feathers of along with many other species of birds in Castillos de Pincheira. The erosion formations and in the Caverna de las Brujas, the stalactites and stalagmites in underground galleries are staggering. Visiting Valle Hermoso makes people reflect on the wisdom of its name and discovering the area on a horseback ride is the best choice to appreciate the landscape. Pozo de Ánimas and Laguna de La Niña Encantada surprise with their water hole in the middle of the aridity of the hills.
In addition to its wonderful geography, in Malargüe there are a modern Convention and Exhibition Centre, a Centre of the International Project Pierre Auger of Cosmic Rays, unique in the world. There is also a modern Sports and Cultural Centre. The ground means of communication are compound mainly by the National Route 40, as the backbone and from which derive secondary ways predominantly in the East-West direction, and which go through the Andes. The air communication counts on the airport in the city of Malargüe, where converge airplanes from the neighbouring countries and from Buenos Aires.
GENERAL ALVEAR
A department with a rich history. Its villages with ranches spread out through the desert, show the resistance men in front of the immensity and precursors in the development of cattle. Its huge extension alternates lakes with ancient houses. The waters of the Atuel River cross Alvear, and they are where it is customary to see the goats cooling down under the sun. Everything in Alvear is known by anecdotes and old verses, especially by a popular character called Bairoletto, from his wanderings and ran ways from the police, in the cool shadows of the bars in the village.
