For the musical instrument mendoza please see its alternative name Monkey stick.

Mendoza is a city (population 2001, 121,000 city itself; over 800,000 metropolitan area) and capital of the Mendoza Province in Argentina. It is in the west of Argentina, on a major arterial road between Argentina and Chile.

The city center has many trees, watered by small canals which run alongside many of the roads providing welcome shade. The city is centered around the Plaza Independencia, with a pedestrian street, Calle Sarmiento, running through the center. Other major streets, running perpendicular to Sarmiento, are 9 de Julio, Av. San Martin, and running parallel to Sarmiento are Av. Colon, Av. Aristides Villanueva and Av. Las Heras.

Climate

Climate: Very dry summers with wetter winters. Media temperatures for January (summer) are 35º C / 95º F at day, and 23º C / 73º F at night. Media temperatures for July (winter), are 12º C / 53º F at day, and 3º C / 38º F at night.

Attractions

Mendoza is a frequent stopover for climbers heading up Aconcagua or other mountain climbing, trekking, horsebackriding, rafting, and outdoor activities. In the winter, skiers come to the city for its easy access to the Andes.

The grape harvest is marked each year by the Vendimia festival, taking place in early March, in which 17 beauty queens (one for province departaments) are nominated, and one winner is selected by a panel of about 50 judges. The queen from Mendoza City can't be chosen because she acts as host for all other queens, the reason is traditional; Mendoza City doesn't have vineyards.

Mendoza has an intense cultural activity, and the city is a main center for professional congresses and meetings. The city has several museums. The main ones are "Cornelio Moyano" (Natural History) and "Museo del Area Fundacional" (Foundational Area Museum, historic). At Maipu, 15 km southeast from Mendoza City, you can find the "Museo Nacional del Vino" (National Wine Museum, wine and vineyard history). And at Mayor Drummond, 14 km south from Mendoza, the beautiful art museum "Emiliano Guiñazu - Casa de Fader", placed at a 1890 mansion where many walls have paintings by the great artist Fernando Fader .

There are many Internet cafes and outdoor equipment supply stores. Some places count with wi-fi technology. There are many attractive bars on Aristides Villanueva Avenue.

Industry

One of the main industries of the Mendoza area is wine-making. Another large industry is olive oil production.

Transport

By bus, Mendoza is 14 hours from Buenos Aires and 6 hours from Santiago, Chile. Mendoza also has a new International Airport. It takes 2 hours to get there from Buenos Aires and just 1 hour from Santiago de Chile.

Mendoza public transport system includes buses, trolleys and taxi-cabs. Trolleys are slightly cheaper and more comfortable than city buses but not as widespread.

Trans-Andean Railway

Mendoza developed because of its position on the South Trans-Andean Railway where the Argentine and Chilean rail lines link. This line is currently out of use, but there are plans (2005) to restore it.

External links

• Photos of Mendoza and surroundings
• Los Andes newspaper online edition
• Uno newspaper, online edition, in Spanish
• El Sol newspaper (5 issues every week, Monday to Friday)
• Argentine National Weather Service, last information about weather status at Mendoza City
• Official tourism office (in Spanish)
• Sitio de turismo (in Spanish)