Andacollo, Neuquén


Andacollo is a second category municipality and the capital city of Minas Department located in Neuquén Province, Argentina.

Geography

Andacollo is located in the joint of the Varvaco river and the Líleo river that form the upper Neuquén River in a valley surrounded by the Wind Mountain Range., The city is located at 1.113 meters over sea level. The city access are the 43 provincial route from Chos Malal, or Provincial routes 6 and 38 from the south.

History

The area of Andacollo was originally populated by the Pehuenche people.
In 1882, Chilean prospectors formed a settlement for their search for gold on the mountains of the area. The prospectors were nicknamed Pirquineros, the miners carried a canvass of the virgin of Andacollo, their home town in Chile. In 1890, to honor the prospectors the city was named Andacollo.
The town was founded on October 26, 1915, six days later than the Minas Department.

Etymology

The meaning of the name of the town is disputed, the meaning of the word Andacollo, from the mapudungun is Copper Mine. A translation of the popular culture is Woman with Cat eyes, and also is not certain the mapudungun origin, sectors of the population believe that the word Andacollo comes from the Kichwa meaning Sun God or The light but until today, the most accepted meaning is Copper mine.

Economy

The main activities in the zone are the agriculture and the Animal husbandry with species such as Capra, Ovis and Cattle.
Another important activity in the area is the Mining, the main mineral extraction in the area is dedicated to Gold, Copper and Granite

Tourism

The main touristic attraction in the area is the Fishing as in other cities in Neuquén Province the most common Fish species in the area is the Rainbow trout.