In the far northwest corner of Neuquén is a
provincial preserve of lakes at the base of the Andes mountains. A long drive through the arid dusty roads from the town of
Chos Malal made this a very remote place to visit in the middle of summer.
For at least half the 200km drive south of Malargüe in Mendoza Province,
Ruta 40 disintegrates into a mix of broken concrete, dirt and gravel. It is flat, though slow and desolate until crossing into Neuquén.
