The Department of San Rafael is one of the largest in the province of Mendoza, has more than 31,000 km, approximately 20% of the provincial area. Found in the geographic centre of the province, finding this place a host of alternatives with respect to tourism in Mendoza, whether urban and rural areas, as well as adventure tourism. Your city bears his name, San Rafael and is 230 kilometers from the city of Mendoza. San Rafael is a town with an air of province, very quiet and picturesque, that has managed to make tourism one of its main activities, thanks to the great variety of important sites that are close to it. One of these places more than interesting to know is Nihuil dam, located in the Canyon of Atuel River.
San San Rafael Department found a lot of oasis, i.e. green spots in an almost desert-like paiseja. This is due to the existence of important rivers that crisscross its surface, the Diamante River and the Atuel River. The significance of these rivers in the local economy is accurate, since hydropower, water for irrigation and the development of new areas dedicated to tourism is generated from them. Such is the case of Nihuil dam.
It is the province’s largest reservoir and was inaugurated in 1947. The artificial lake formed here reaches the 9600 surface has. An urban center called Nihuil village was generated due to its existence, dedicated to tourism El Nihuil lies approximately 85 km from San Rafael. The existence of the dam at this point is not capricious. The Atuel River Canyon reached a considerable height, in some places up to 350 m, by which dam it reaches 115 m of height. By the taanto, the area lends itself uniquely for the practice of many extreme sports, like rafting and abseiling. There are abundant accommodation options in Mendoza in the area of Nihuil, from campsites to beautiful tourist villas with cabins and lodgings. It is a maximum beauty spot, a favorite of the same from Mendoza to build their residences of summer or weekend.