{"id":22539,"date":"2024-02-27T01:15:34","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T06:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/traveling-cook.com\/?p=22539"},"modified":"2024-02-27T10:08:59","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:08:59","slug":"extreme-hiking-la-mexicana-mine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traveling-cook.com\/extreme-hiking-la-mexicana-mine\/","title":{"rendered":"Extreme Hiking – La Mexicana Mine"},"content":{"rendered":"
La Mejicana Mine is a gold mine located in Cerro Famatina at 15,100 feet above sea level and 34 km from the city of Famatina in the province of La Rioja, Argentina<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n To transport the large amount of ore to Chilecito – Argentina<\/a>, what was at the time one of the largest engineering works in the world was built, a cableway, which was completed in 1905, with a length of 35 km and which is currently part of the monuments and historical places of Argentina<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Towards the end of the 19th century, Famatina became one of the most important districts with the production of gold, silver, iron, copper and lead.<\/span><\/p>\n On National Route 40, in the South Access to the city of Chilecito (La Rioja – Argentina<\/a>), you can see the old and abandoned structure of Station number 1 of the cableway Chilecito – Mina La Mejicana, with more than 120 years of history.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is an almost unique construction in the world<\/strong>. A transport system that advances 24 miles in a straight line from above roughly 3,600 feet, in Chilecito, and up to almost above roughly 15,100 feet in the heights of Famatina.<\/span><\/p>\n Along the way there are 262 towers, 9 stations and 6 boilers marking a geological circuit that invites you to discover (hiking, mountain biking<\/a>, car, 4×4, mule or horseback) the ruins of what was once the foundry center of the most important minerals in Argentina.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In this area and in the seventeenth century the Catholic religious order<\/strong> of the Jesuits knew of the mineral wealth in gold and copper of this land. After the expulsion of the Jesuits by order of the King of Spain, in the middle of the 18th century, the settlers forgot about mining.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n An explorer of Mexican origin discovered a gold mine. This mine was commercially exploited from the end of the 19th century by an English company that around 1903 contracted the German company Bleichert & Co.<\/em><\/a> This contract led to the construction of a transportation system through which to transport the minerals from the top of the Famatina to the port of Buenos Aires<\/strong>, via the Northern Railroad, for export.<\/span><\/p>\n The operation of the mine was falling when the first world war began in 1914 and the British<\/a> withdrew from the project. Other private companies continued with the exploitation until 1926, the year in which they ceased forever.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently the deposit is abandoned<\/a> and is only used by tourism to visit the abandoned mine facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arriving in Chilecito through the South Access on National Route 20, you will find the Cablecarril museum,<\/strong> located where the administrative offices of La Mejicana used to work. The museum preserves documentary material from La Mejicana – Mining Museum. It also protects testimonies of the mining past of Chilecito. There are plans, tools, minute books, remains of minerals, machinery, photos<\/span> In the other sector of the same property, the station from which the trucks and hoppers departed, where the minerals were unloaded, is located. There are also various types of trolleys, an elevator, counting systems and a pitch-pitch boom or pulley.<\/span><\/p>\n The station is so called because of the color of the river that passes by, an ocher-colored river through whose waters run minerals. The station is located in Santa Florentina, 11 miles from Chilecito and at an altitude of 5,050 feet.<\/span><\/p>\n This station is the only one that has a division in the branch, a small detour that leads to the ruins of the smelting furnaces<\/strong>, where 3% of the material was processed for the maintenance of the cableway and the payment of workers’ salaries.<\/span><\/p>\n Between stations #2 and #3 the distance is 8 km in a straight line, but by vehicle it adds up to about 14 km. A few miles above Santa Florentina, where the camping<\/a> area is concentrated, the Agua Negra post is the meeting point of the river of the same name and that of the Amarillo River, a crossroads of crystalline waters loaded with minerals. The rivers cross, but incredibly, but the waters do not mix.<\/span><\/p>\n Until this station<\/a> you can make the journey in a 4×4 vehicle, preferably in the latter case with a guide service, since you can reach a certain point and then continue via trekking.<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are adventure tourism excursions to visit the remains of the mine and ascents and descents along what was once the cable car path. For tourists inexperienced in mountaineering, it is not recommended to visit the mountainous area without hiring a specialized guide<\/strong>. Or in any case, follow the rules of safe Hiking<\/a> and accumulate enough information well in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
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An almost unique construction in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Mine operations begin<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Knowing the cableway<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Mexican Station Number1<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nand documents. It is organized in two parts: the Museum itself, where iconographic documents, plans, tools, books<\/a>, minerals, machinery, photos and an interconnected communication system are exhibited.<\/span><\/p>\nStation #1<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Victorinox Store 2022<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Station #2 – El Durazno (The Peach)<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Station #3 – El Parron<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nFrom this station, all the following ones are accessed by mountain trails.<\/a> you already have to take proper equipment to a crossing<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n
Hiking on the path of the La Mexicana Mine<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n