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| Miramar | ||
| province | Cordoba | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2.500 | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | 78 m | |
| Tourist information Tel | (03563) 493085 | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Miramar is the only place right on the bank of the salty Laguna Mar Chiquita, the largest lake Argentina in the province Cordoba. It has about 2,000 inhabitants and lives from tourism and nutria breeding.
The village was an internationally known health resort and the main tourist center of the province of Cordoba until the 1970s. When the water level of the lake rose sharply from the late 1970s and "swallowed" the former coastal promenade, part of the village was under water until 1992. Today the popularity of the place as a travel destination is increasing again, especially with nature lovers after the establishment of a large nature reserve, but also with bathers after a new beach promenade was built.
background
Miramar was discovered by tourists from Cordoba and Buenos Aires as early as the beginning of the 20th century. Back then, the water was even more salty than it is today - about as strong as that Dead sea - because the lake had significantly less volume. It was world-famous as a destination for spa tourists, the luxurious Hotel Viena testifies to this boom phase.
However, in the late 1970s there were several consecutive years of heavy rainfall and the water level kept rising. As early as 1980 it was clear that the phenomenon was permanent. In 1992, a large part of the city was therefore blown up. Miramar lost more than half of its residents and a large proportion of its guests.
After years of decline, closed beaches were set up around 1995 and a new promenade was inaugurated in the mid-2000s, since then things have been on the up again, even if one can no longer speak of mass tourism by far. The lake has also lost its attractiveness for spa guests due to its reduced salt content, but therapies with salty mud are still offered. Towards the end of the 2000s, the water level fell again as a result of a long period of drought in central Argentina, but it is still well above the level before the flood.
Today Miramar is a place for nature lovers, and swimming is also good again, partly in the middle of ruins, which makes for a bizarre charm. In particular, the variety of migratory birds that stop here makes ornithologists' hearts beat faster.
getting there
By plane
There are airports in the wider area in Cordoba and Santa Fewith the best connections from Cordoba.
By train
The railway line that used to bring many tourists to Miramar (train station 12 km south in Balnearia) is currently shut down.
In the street
- From Cordoba and Santa Fe: RN 19 bis El Tío, then RP 3 to Balnearia with a cul-de-sac to Miramar. The road condition is good, but there is a lot of traffic on the RN 19, which is why it is gradually being expanded into a motorway.
- Of Buenos Aires from: RN 9 after Rosario, then RN 34 or (a little longer, but faster) motorway Rosario-Santa Fe, in each case to the intersection with the RN 19, turn in this direction Córdoba. From El Tío as above.
By bus
There are direct buses from Cordoba (4-6 times a day) and Buenos Aires / Rosario.
mobility
Everything is within walking distance, but there are also taxis.
Tourist Attractions
- Hotel Viena, Santiago de Liniers 120., Ruin of a luxury hotel that is now half in the water. The hotel is now a museum where you can experience a lot about the history of Miramar.
- Aníbal Montes Natural Science Museum, Urquiza 151. Tel.: 54 (03563) 493217.
- Photographic Museum, Libertad 175. Tel.: 54 (03563) 493078.
activities
There are several beaches. The main beach is on the promenade in the center (with heaped sand), to the east of it you can find more on two close-by streets that "flow into the lake", as well as on the way to the Hotel Viena on the dike and one near the ruins of the old one Casinos. About 800 m west of the center there is a beach with natural sand, where you have to walk very far when the water level is low, as the shore is shallow there. Other beaches can be found about 2 km west near the Xanaes Estuary, but they are quite muddy and mostly deserted.
In addition to swimming, you can watch birds (including flamingos). This works best at the mouth of the Río Xanaes, about 4 km west of the village, where there is an ornithological station with a lookout tower. The coast is easy to explore by bike, as there are numerous wide dirt roads. Canoeing and rowing are also possible, but there is no rental in town. Fishing is also possible.
Several events take place from November to April. The motorcyclist meeting stands out among them Moto Encuentro out in February / March, one of the largest in Argentina. There is also a folklore festival (January), a classic car meeting, various sporting events (canoe regatta on the Rio Xanaes, bicycle tournaments, triathlon) and a regional art exhibition.
shop
There are a handful of small supermarkets in the center. A small craft market takes place on the promenade during the season.
kitchen
In the center there is one restaurant after the other. In many you can get fish from the lake.
nightlife
Two small discos actually only fill up during the weekend season. There are also several open-air bars on the promenade and a casino near the entrance to the town. During the season there are dance evenings in some restaurants on Saturdays.
- Casino, Ruta 3. Tel.: 54 (03563) 493004.
accommodation
Campsites are mainly found in the immediate vicinity of the Hotel Viena, these also have access to the shore. There are also several hotels and bungalows in the village (Cabañas).
- Residencia El Reencuentro, Urquiza 456. Tel.: 54 (03563) 15406683 420357 (after 22h).Cheap, cleanly furnished hostel with air conditioning and shared kitchen.
health
There is a pharmacy and a small local clinic in the village.
There are no particular health hazards. However, you should protect yourself from the numerous mosquitoes, which are a nuisance especially around the plaza, because of the salt they are not to be found directly on the water. There have been rare isolated cases of dengue fever transmitted by a species of mosquito (Aedes aegypti).
You should only bathe in the designated places, otherwise you run the risk of injuring yourself on the ruins. The beaches are guarded and usually cordoned off. On the natural beaches west of the center, however, you can swim without any problems - but there is no guard by lifeguards here.
Practical advice
Travelers should take enough cash with them - the only ATM (20 m east of the plaza) is often broken, which led to a lot of displeasure among tourists, who then had to move to Balnearia (12 km south). Also, very few hotels and restaurants accept credit cards.
There are two internet cafes, both on the main street of Córdoba. The area code is 03563 and the zip code X5143. There is a post office in the street Urquiza to be found between Córdoba and Velez Sársfield.
trips
- Rio Xanaes. See activities, the estuary is very attractive and is home to numerous species of birds.
- Campo Mare. A beach on the south-west bank of the lake, in the middle of nature on an elongated peninsula, with some steep coast and fine sand. Many birds stop here too. Directions via La Para, there is no public transport. There is a campsite on site.
- Morteros. Largest city around Lake Mar Chiquita. There are also some beaches here.
- Villa Tulumba. About 100 km to the west, best reached by car. Old place with colonial architecture, on the northern foothills of the Sierras de Cordoba.
