The name Villa La Angostura was coined after an isthmus which connects the land to the Quetrhué peninsula, causing narrowness called angostura (“narrow pass” in Spanish).
Surrounded by lakes and forests, an extraordinary landscape combines with the warmth and singular beauty of the mountain architecture.
Villa La Angostura is in the southernmost tip of Neuquen Province at the northern bank of Nahuel Huapi Lake, right next to the Patagonia mountain range, 473 kilometres away from Neuquen capital city, and 1,693 kilometres away from the Argentinean Capital, B.A.
Villa La Angostura is the entrance gate to the Arrayanes National Park, the only place in the world where you can find a natural forest of this species.
Interesting Data
- Population: 12000 approximately
- Annual Growth Rate: (1991-2001) 121.83%
- Population Density: 98.15 inhabitants per km2
- Local communal land: 7960 hectares.
Origin of the Lakes
The formation of the big lakes basin is traced back to the pre glacial age. The glacial age which followed this period covered the entire southern region with an ice layer, by the cooling process. Important volcanic movements and wavy motion of the land reduced the eternal glacial masses, which remained in the surface due to their temperature.
When these glacial masses began to move towards the valleys, this immense snowdrift slowly ran over all that was on their way, deepening the lakes and forming the tugged elements, a sort of natural jetties and wings which are scientifically called “
moraine”.After the ice disappeared, enormous cavities were left where the lakes of this region began to form, and as the water covered the moraines, another phenomenon took place: by pressing against the moraines’ walls the water broke the jetties and moved towards the
Atlantic Ocean, forming the current
Limay River, only mouth of the waters to the ocean.
Correntoso River. In the south you can find the
Correntoso Lake and River, the latter being 132 metres long and one of the shortest rivers in the world.
Nahuel Huapi Lake, with its assorted bays, peninsulas and islands, is the most important lake in this region. It has 550 km2 (equivalent to the entire Capital Federal, B.A), it is 764 AMSL and up to 450 meters deep.
Flora
Villa La Agostura has an exuberant vegetation. As a result of the environmental humidity, the development of fine fruit species is possible: strawberry, raspberry, currant, musk rose, mushrooms, and flowers such as roses and tulips.
Fauna
This is one of the most famous regions in the world for its excellent conditions for fishing. Among the most salient fauna in this area you can find a great variety of fish in its lakes: salmon, silver salmon, trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, king fish, catfish, Limay River catfish and piuyén.
Wild boars, deer, pudus, huiña cats, little mountain monkeys and hares are also part of the important fauna of this region.
There is also a great variety among the birds such as the Patagonian black woodpecker, austral parrot and the chucao.