The western border of Argentina is in the Andes Mountains. One of its large western provinces is Mendoza (mn-d´ sä), which is about the size of Illinois. Mendoza is made up of high mountains, foothills, and rolling plains. Mt. Aconcagua (ä´ kn-kä´ gwä) is on the boundary between Chile and the province of Mendoza. This mountain is 23,080 feet high, and is the highest point of land in the western hemisphere. Here is shown the Mendoza River just after it winds its way out of the Andean foothills. It is fed by the snows and ice of the Andes. Not much rain falls in this section of Argentina. The westerly winds lose their moisture in passing over the Andes. What part of the United States is dry for a similar reason? The short bunch grass you see shows the lack of rainfall. Irrigation takes the place of rainfall in much of Mendoza. The province is noted for its vineyards. The city of Mendoza, the capital of the province, is on the Transandean ("across-the-Andes") Railway which runs from Valparaiso (vl´ på-ri´ s) Chile, to Buenos Aires (bw´ ns-i´ rs), Argentina. It is a city of 40,000 people. It was founded in1559, and is noted for its fine churches. It is 600 miles northwest of Buenos Aires. The Mendoza section of Argentina is much like parts of Spain. Its climate is similar, it is a dry plateau, and one of its chief products is grapes. The likeness of Mendoza to southern Europe is more striking because of its people. Italians have settled here in large colonies to tend the vineyards. Perhaps in time this section will be the "Little Italy" of South America. Find the city of Mendoza on the map of South America. Locate also Buenos Aires and Valparaiso. Keystone ID: 21817 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.