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Abstract

mes.</p><p id="1a1d">Typically you begin the hike slowly climbing towards the East. You are always close to the river, and in its open spaces you get superb views of the mountains, which are covered with grasses that confer curious colors very sensitive to the presence and position of the Sun and the clouds (I will show you more about this in future stories):</p><figure id="a9a4"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*5OS1ifMFghZGkSI5"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="aed7">Just like that basin filled by running water, there are tens of other similar spots all around the river. Look for example at this wonderful water slide surrounded by deep green:</p><figure id="1642"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*vQ1aJUKZJZ2-qNma"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="c3fb">Sometimes two or more consecutive basins follow, like here:</p><figure id="e9fa"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*UvEXrfmmngubnceY"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="6b60">In other sections of the river the water flows slowly and is shallow. You can there just sit and relax. The waters are not too cold, because these mountains barely reach the 2000 m.a.s.l., we are here at around 1300 m, and these lands are just under the Tropic of Capricorn so they get a lot of sun in summer, with the air reaching easily over 30 Celsius.</p><figure id="9e66"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*m8aIZRfjBtIm1Qpt"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="e6f2">Even when clouds pass, you still feel the burning sun rays. And usually, these thin clouds will go away in a matter of minutes, cleared out by the sun itself.</p><figure id="ae2f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*6PXLFpXaPJPnr9Py"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="2064">You can <a href="http://lucianoabriata.altervista.org/tests/panolens/ARTfeb2022__villaelena1.html"><b>view this last shot in 3D here</b></a>. Move around to appreciate the mountains and vegetation, and try to find where the water is coming from.</p><p id="738f">Repeating myself, these waters are very enjoyable! Look at me here in this natural jacuzzi. Just deep enough: I could barely touch the bottom with my fee.:</p><figure id="b12c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*29WNLlfjxucGyktE"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h2 id="cf71">Finally the highlight of the park, Cascada Esmeralda:</h2><p id="ea98">Two small cascades that fill up a very deep basin. You can even jump into it from the rocks on the sides!</p><figure id="3b8a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*k7Gq9M1ZARLQzXzA"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h2 id="f3c5">Getting to the “water park”</h2><p id="fdb7">The walk begins in Villa Elena, a very small town around 25 km south of Villa de Merlo which is the “big” city around here. The walk towards and into the park goes through an exuberant forest dominated by exotic blackberries:</p><figure id="e17f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Y5QZEwrEmDIWQOUk"><figcaption

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</figcaption></figure><p id="006e">You will also see, especially as you go higher, some local trees like the so-called <i>Tabaquillo,</i> a protected species. Its wood is wonderful, and fortunately nobody seems to be exploiting it… Surprisingly for this country, its protection is respected:</p><figure id="32fd"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*H-WdAZ5anT-6nIyV"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="b027">Check out this <a href="http://lucianoabriata.altervista.org/tests/panolens/ARTfeb2022__villaelena2.html"><b>3D view to feel like you are hiking this forest</b></a>.</p><p id="21a5"><b>If you want to see and know more about this <i>Quebrada</i></b>, I recommend you this video (Spanish audio, but the automatic subtitles are quite good)</p> 
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            <iframe class="" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F91wocOpNPYk%3Ffeature%3Doembed&amp;display_name=YouTube&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D91wocOpNPYk&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F91wocOpNPYk%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="854">
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    </figure></iframe></div></div></figure><p id="c02f"><b>If you liked the 3D views, don’t miss these other stories:</b></p><div id="75b5" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/playing-with-immersive-360-spherical-photos-e85d1a9dbe75">
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            <h2>Playing with immersive 360° (“spherical”) photos</h2>
            <div><h3>I recently got to know a library with which I can insert 360-degree views taken with my smartphone for you to…</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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      <a href="https://readmedium.com/360-degrees-in-deep-argentinian-nature-41e31a82f520">
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            <h2>360 degrees in deep Argentinian nature</h2>
            <div><h3>Selected immersive spherical photos from my recent hikes in Argentina, to make you feel like you are there!</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*D__q2TiPI6e7pLFS1FKrsA.png)"></div>
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    </div><p id="2b62"><b>Want more?</b> <a href="https://lucianosphere.medium.com/subscribe">Subscribe</a>, <a href="https://lucianosphere.medium.com/membership">join Medium</a>, and visit <a href="https://www.lucianoabriata.com">www.lucianoabriata.com</a></p></article></body>
Me enjoying a small natural jacuzzi. All photos by author Luciano Abriata.

A wild water park in deep nature

Let’s ride this natural park through shots of its best water games, water slides, jacuzzis, forests, and landscapes.

Where are we? This is called Quebrada de Villa Elena and is situated in the NorthEast of the province of San Luis, central Argentina. This region of the country is not much known, so it is a true gem. Amazing weather, stunning nature, great local and adapted food, friendly people in the very small towns all around. I promise more general photostories about this region someday.

In the meantime you can check these articles focusing on the wildlife:

Back to this specific Quebrada (which corresponds to the English word for “narrow valley”), this one runs along a river from East to West, going down the Comechingones mountain chain. “Comechingones” were local tribes that inhabited these regions until Spanish times.

Typically you begin the hike slowly climbing towards the East. You are always close to the river, and in its open spaces you get superb views of the mountains, which are covered with grasses that confer curious colors very sensitive to the presence and position of the Sun and the clouds (I will show you more about this in future stories):

Just like that basin filled by running water, there are tens of other similar spots all around the river. Look for example at this wonderful water slide surrounded by deep green:

Sometimes two or more consecutive basins follow, like here:

In other sections of the river the water flows slowly and is shallow. You can there just sit and relax. The waters are not too cold, because these mountains barely reach the 2000 m.a.s.l., we are here at around 1300 m, and these lands are just under the Tropic of Capricorn so they get a lot of sun in summer, with the air reaching easily over 30 Celsius.

Even when clouds pass, you still feel the burning sun rays. And usually, these thin clouds will go away in a matter of minutes, cleared out by the sun itself.

You can view this last shot in 3D here. Move around to appreciate the mountains and vegetation, and try to find where the water is coming from.

Repeating myself, these waters are very enjoyable! Look at me here in this natural jacuzzi. Just deep enough: I could barely touch the bottom with my fee.:

Finally the highlight of the park, Cascada Esmeralda:

Two small cascades that fill up a very deep basin. You can even jump into it from the rocks on the sides!

Getting to the “water park”

The walk begins in Villa Elena, a very small town around 25 km south of Villa de Merlo which is the “big” city around here. The walk towards and into the park goes through an exuberant forest dominated by exotic blackberries:

You will also see, especially as you go higher, some local trees like the so-called Tabaquillo, a protected species. Its wood is wonderful, and fortunately nobody seems to be exploiting it… Surprisingly for this country, its protection is respected:

Check out this 3D view to feel like you are hiking this forest.

If you want to see and know more about this Quebrada, I recommend you this video (Spanish audio, but the automatic subtitles are quite good)

If you liked the 3D views, don’t miss these other stories:

Want more? Subscribe, join Medium, and visit www.lucianoabriata.com

Nature
Photography
Travel
Outdoors
Hiking
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