Lago Puelo. Photo: Sec. de Turismo de Lago Puelo

It has more than 8.000 inhabitants, in Chubut province, near El Bolson and Lago Puelo National Park. With El Bolsón, El Hoyo, Epuyén, Cholila and El Maitén, it is located in the Parallel 42 andean region. As El Bolson, its height of 170m o.s.l., in a long valley from north to south, gives it a warm climate, which allows developing tourism through the whole year. The name "Puelo" comes from the mapuche "puelco", which means "eastern water". Chilean mapuche communities called "puelco" both the river and the lake. They drain to the Pacific, after crossing the andean range and getting Reloncaví estuary.
In 1621, looking for "The Ceasar's city", spanish conqueror Juan Fernández, navigated along Chiloé island and crossed the range going up Puelo river. As in other failing attempts, Fernández did not discover the mythic city. However, he was the first "huinca" getting the region and making contact with the natives.
After Fernández, there weren't conquerors or "criollos" until 1884, when chilean Pedro "Motoco" Cárdenas, settled on what he baptized as "Valle Nuevo" (new valley). He was the first white man living in the zone.
In 1885, governor Cnel. Luis Jorge Fontana organized an expedition, with many volunteer welsh men. They discovered the valley on 16th october. This region was disputed by Argentina and Chile, until 1902, when welsh settlers living in the area, decided to belong to Argentina.
After a big forest fire in 1987, some people organized the "Forest and its environment national feast" , for making consciousness about native forest protection.

Argentina: Norte Neuquino, Caviahue - Copahue, Villa Pehuenia, Aluminé,

Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes, Villa Traful, Villa La Angostura,

Bariloche, El Bolsón, Lago Puelo, El Hoyo, Esquel, Trevelin.

Chile: Pucón, Villarrica, Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas.