CURACAUTIN
is located 56 kilometers to Victoria's west, in a walled valley
for the volcanos Tolhuaca, Lonquimay and Llaima, which are seen
from the city.
It
was a passing place for the tribes mapuches that lived to both
sides of the Mountain range of the Andes and that in summer they
ascended to gather pinenuts (fruit of the “araucarias”
trees), base of their feeding.
Excellent
starting point for rides in the mountain range: to the National
Park Conguillio toward the south, Thermal baths of Tolhuaca and
Thermal baths of Manzanar to the north and Lonquimay
toward the east.
To
go to this city there are two variants: 1) by the hill “Las
Raíces”, a beautiful ascent among the natural forests
with view toward the river Biobío and inclusive of Argentina;
2) by the tunnel “Las Raíces”, a railroad tunnel
also used for cars, the longest in South America (4528 meters),
and 1000 meters over the sea level that in winter its roof is
full of ice stalactites hanging.
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