Allen

Allen lies in the Alto Valle of the Negro River, on the river’s northern bank at the foot of the bluffs. It is 25 km from General Roca, 15 km from Cipolletti and 25 km from Neuquén city. With 31,864 residents (2022 census) it is the province’s fifth largest town.

Things to do

• National Pear Festival: held in late January since 1998, honouring the fruit that made Allen one of the world’s largest producers.
• The farms: apples and pears, in the heart of a region known for the quality of its fruit.
• Cycling: the Vuelta al Valle race has earned it the regional nickname “Cycling Capital”.

Climate

Cold and dry, with a wide temperature range and some 67 frost days a year. Rainfall varies greatly, from under 80 mm to almost 500 mm depending on the year.

History

Chronicles of the Conquest of the Desert mention the place as a lagoon called Huiaque Nelo. When the railway station opened, it was named after Henry Charles Allen, a director and later chairman of the Southern Railway, who visited the valley in 1899 and 1924.

Distances: 25 km from General Roca · 25 km from Neuquén city