San Carlos de Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche, resort town, Río Negro provincia (province), southwestern Argentina. It lies on the southeastern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapí, in the Andean lake district.

Chalet-type building construction, introduced in 1905 by Swiss immigrants, provides an appropriate setting for skiing in the winter months on the slopes of the nearby V. López and Otto peaks, while the many lakes and streams afford opportunities for fishing. The picturesque scenery of the area, designated as Nahuel Huapí National Park in 1934, inspired the setting for Walt Disney’s film Bambi. Tourism is the main economic activity. Bariloche was the scene of a meeting in 1960 between President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States and President Arturo Frondizi of Argentina that resulted in the Declaration of Bariloche, a pledge of friendship between the two countries. Pop. (2001) 89,092; (2010 est.) 108,300.