Sierra Grande

Sierra Grande lies in south-eastern Río Negro, at km 1250 of National Route 3, on the eastern slope of the hills that shelter it from the south-west wind, 250 metres above sea level. It has 8,957 residents (2022 census).

Things to do

Its history is tied to iron: the nearby deposit has the largest reserves in South America. When the mine closed in the 1990s, the town turned to mining tourism, with visits to the underground galleries, and to the beaches of Playas Doradas, 28 km away on the coast and among the most popular in Argentine Patagonia.

Getting here

Along National Route 3, which links it to San Antonio Oeste and Viedma to the north and to Puerto Madryn to the south.

History

The hills of the area were a route and home for the Tehuelche people. Settlers arrived from Viedma and Carmen de Patagones in the late 19th century; the local court opened on 19 October 1903, the date taken as its founding. Iron was discovered in 1944 and mining began in 1969, driving the town’s growth until the late 1980s. The mine closed in the early 1990s and reopened in 2005.

Distances: Km 1250 of National Route 3 · 28 km from Playas Doradas